Man charged with sexual assault, burglary

TALKEETNA -- A 22-year-old Talkeetna man faces second-degree sexual assault and first-degree burglary charges in connection with an incident involving a coworker at the Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge.

David R. Sorrentino, a night cook at the lodge, is scheduled for preliminary hearing today in the Palmer courthouse. He has been held at Mat-Su Pre-Trial facility on $30,000 bail since Monday when a manager at the lodge called Alaska State Troopers to report the attack.

A female employee at the lodge, located at Mile 12.5 Talkeetna Spur Road, told troopers she was sleeping in her apartment about 2 a.m. Monday when she awoke to find Sorrentino standing next to her.

"She asked, 'What the hell are you doing?' David stated 'Sorry,' and ran out of the room," according to a report by Trooper Ron Hayes.

The woman then went to Sorrentino's apartment to confirm it was him, the report said, and Sorrentino again said he was sorry about the incident but he was attracted to her. The woman told her female roommate, who told the lodge manager.

According to charging documents, Sorrentino had his hand underneath the woman's shorts when she woke up. A physical exam determined the victim had injuries from the assault, Hayes' report said.

Sorrentino admitted to the assault, according to Hayes.

The report said the woman's apartment door was unlocked, but noted she had never invited Sorrentino to visit her. Despite working at the same lodge, the two had never really met before.

Charging documents indicated the sexual assault occurred with Sorrentino knowing the woman was "incapacitated and unaware that a sex act was being committed."

"He knows he shouldn't have done it but has a problem with alcohol and pornography," Hayes said in his report.

Both charges against Sorrentino are class B felonies punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a $100,000 fine.