Man indicted for sexual abuse of girl

PALMER -- A grand jury has indicted a Wasilla man on four counts of sexual abuse of a minor.

The indictments against Kevin L. Stafford were handed down Dec. 10 in Palmer Superior Court. Stafford faces two counts of first-degree sexual abuse of a minor and two counts of second-degree sexual abuse of a minor.

Charging documents allege the incident took place in Stafford's residence early the morning of Aug. 17 while his wife was not home. Stafford is 33 and the alleged victim was 14 at the time.

Stafford, his wife and the girl had gone to a wedding Aug. 16, according to charging documents. Afterward, the wife drove to the home of a female friend while Stafford and the girl went to the Stafford home, documents said.

Stafford told Alaska State Trooper Detective Leonard Wallner that he spoke with his wife by telephone about midnight and she told him she would be staying overnight at her friend's house. According to charging documents, Stafford admitted going into a bedroom where the alleged victim was sleeping about 1:30 a.m. and asking, "Can you keep a secret?" He asked if he could touch her and proceeded to do so, according to charging documents.

He stopped when the girl began to cry, charging documents said. The girl told Stafford's wife about the incident the next day, and a medical examination by a doctor indicated "positive results" for sexual assault, according to charging documents.

Stafford, who had been drinking at the wedding and also at home later that night, told the girl his actions were OK "because he was drinking," charging documents said.

During arraignment on Dec. 12, Stafford pleaded not guilty on the two counts of first-degree sexual assault but pleaded no contest to the two lesser charges, according to court documents.

Arraignment was conducted before Superior Court Judge Eric Smith. Stafford's case originally was assigned to Superior Court Judge Beverly Cutler, but defense attorney Eugene Cyrus filed a challenge to have it reassigned.

First-degree sexual abuse of a minor is an unclassified felony. Sexual abuse of a minor in the second degree is a class B felony carrying a possible sentence of up to 10 years in prison and $100,000 fine.

A pre-trial conference is scheduled for Feb. 13, 2004. Trial is tentatively set for March 17, 2004.