Local elementary teacher charged with sexually abusing students over the last decade

PALMER — A local elementary school teacher and self-described “pedophile,” was in a Palmer courtroom Thursday afternoon facing allegations of sexual abuse that span a decade.

Lukis Nighswonger, 36, a fourth-grade teacher at Iditarod Elementary in Wasilla at the time of his arrest, has been charged with three counts of sexual abuse of a minor in the second degree, a Class B felony. In a statement released Wednesday evening, the Mat-Su Borough School District received the report of the alleged abuse Monday. Nighswonger was arrested Wednesday after an interview with the Wasilla Police Department. According to the affidavit, Nighswonger acknowledged that he considered himself a, “pedophile.”

The charges against Nighswonger date back to 2008.

Judge Jonathan Woodman granted $100,000 bail, $50,000 cash performance and $50,000 cash appearance.

“I think that regardless there is a very clear reason to give him a very high bail,” Lindsey Burton, a prosecutor with the Palmer District Attorney’s Office, said during the arraignment. “There were three victims for over a decade. It’s my understanding he actually indicated he was considering fleeing, so he’s a flight risk as well there’s a huge risk here in the community.”

On Monday, Mat-Su Borough School District officials informed WPD that a teacher in the district may have inappropriately touched a student, according to court documents. During an interview with district officials, Nighswonger admitted he had inappropriately touched a former female student. In his interview with WPD, Nighswonger said he inappropriately touched a former female student multiple times.

On Wednesday, a Child Forensic Interview was conducted with the victim, who said she was touched inappropriately multiple times in 2014.

There are also previous allegations against Nighswonger. In November of 2012, WPD received a report of a possible sexual abuse incident between Nighswonger and a boy, then 9 years old, according to court documents. This abuse allegedly occurred in 2008.

In January, according to court documents, a Report of Harm was filed with the Office of Children’s Services. In the report, a family friend, then 14 years old, was allegedly touched inappropriately by Nighswonger during visits to his classroom after school. The victim said this happened in 2013.

During a second interview with WPD on Wednesday, Nighswonger added, “he has been attracted to kids as long as he can remember.”

Nighswonger could be facing 5 to 15 years in prison for each charge, if convicted. There is preliminary hearing set for Oct. 8 at 1 p.m.

During the arraignment, Judge Woodman said Nighswonger, “will have no direct or indirect contact with minor children, however he may telephone your own children or have contact in the presence of the children’s mother.”

Contact Frontiersman editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com and Frontiersman reporter Tim Rockey at tim.rockey@frontiersman.com.