Palmer man arrested in child abuse case

PALMER -- Alaska State Troopers have reported the arrest of two suspects in a child abuse case that began in August.

After receiving a report that a minor child was being abused, Palmer AST General Investigations Unit and the Mat-Su Child Abuse Investigations Unit conducted an investigation that resulted in the arrest of Jason Hitesman, 21, of Palmer, and Lavern Randy Acker, 38, of Palmer.

Hitesman was charged with four counts of second-degree sexual abuse of a minor, was arraigned on Sept. 5, and was subsequently released on bail. Second-degree sexual abuse of a minor is a Class B felony, carrying up to 10 years in jail for a first felony conviction and a fine of $50,000.

Acker was also arrested in connection with the same case on Wednesday in Palmer. Acker was charged with two counts of first-degree endangering the welfare of a minor child and subsequently taken to Mat-Su Pre-Trial Facility, where he remained in custody Friday in lieu of $22,500 cash bail. First-degree endangering the welfare of a minor child is a Class C felony, carrying up to five years in jail for a first felony conviction and a fine of $50,000. Acker reportedly was the guardian of the child involved in the case and allowed Hitesman to have contact with the child even though he was alleged to have known about the abuse.

According to Investigator Margie Escobar of the Mat-Su Child Abuse Investigations Unit, the Alaska statute under which Acker was indicted is one of two relatively new laws passed to provide additional protections for children in Alaska.

Under AS 11.51.100, a parent or legal guardian is held accountable if they knowingly or intentionally allow a child under their care to be placed at risk of serious physical harm or of sexual contact by another person who is not legally responsible for the child. Under AS 11.51.110, any person responsible for the care of a child under 10 years old is held accountable if they are themselves impaired by an intoxicant or if they allow a child to be in a house in which a controlled substance is stored.