Local man sentenced to 29 years for 2011 sexual abuse

ANCHORAGE — A Big Lake man has been sentenced to 29 years in prison in a sexual abuse case dating to 2011, authorities said.

Jamie D. Cordell, 43, had faced four counts of first-degree sexual abuse of a minor, an unclassified felony, three counts of second-degree sexual abuse of a minor, a class B felony, and a single count of contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile, a class A misdemeanor.

Alaska State Troopers arrested Cordell Sept. 6, 2011, according to Frontiersman articles at the time. He has remained incarcerated since his March 17, 2014 conviction, according to court records.

A jury acquitted him of all but three charges following a nearly month-long March 2014 trial, according to an Alaska Department of Law press release. The jury convicted him of two counts of second-degree sex abuse committed during 2008 and 2009, and a single count of first-degree sex abuse committed during 2011.

Defense attorneys had argued for a 17-year sentence, and cited a doctor’s report that said Cordell’s prospects for rehabilitation were high, and his risk of reoffending was low, according to the release.

However, when the doctor was cross-examined in court, he “acknowledged that these scores could not fully account for the abuse shown at trial,” the release reads in part.

In addition to the term of incarceration, Cordell received five years suspended incarceration, and 15 years probation, according to the press release.

The Frontiersman does not identify victims or alleged victims of sex crimes, following widespread media practice. Cordell knew his one victim, authorities said.

Cordell remained in custody at Goose Creek Correctional Center Friday evening, according to corrections documents.

Contact Brian O’Connor at 352-2269 or brian.oconnor@frontiersman.com, or on Twitter @reporterbriano.