Talkeetna man with long history of violence serving misdemeanor assault charge without bail

WASILLA — Orrin Pinard is no stranger to the legal system, containing an extensive history of instability and violence spanning well over a decade.

Pinard, 33, of Talkeetna, is currently serving a sentence on a misdemeanor assault charge involving domestic violence for an incident that occurred Aug. 7, according to online court documents.

Alaska State Troopers posted an online dispatch relating information about Pinard’s arrest Aug. 7. According to the dispatch, Troopers responded to a Talkeetna residence near Mile 97 of the Parks Highway for a disturbance just before 6 a.m.. They indicated that Pinard assaulted a family member during the incident.

He was originally charged with two assault counts, but the felony charge was disposed by the state prosecutor Aug. 24. The case was disposed after a guilty plea to an fourth-degree assault charge.

Pinard’s most recent case prior to this incident was a conviction for criminal mischief in the fifth degree and disorderly conduct after he was arrested for wreaking havoc on a roadway and subsequently damaging an Alaska State Trooper vehicle during transport in 2019.

These are just two of numerous incidents that gave Pinard a notorious reputation for violent and disturbing behavior known to locals and authorities alike. His past is riddled with sexual and physical assault allegations and convictions spanning over a decade.

“It has been my experience dealing with Orrin over the years that his behavior has been getting increasingly more unpredictable and violent over the years. His unpredictable behavior, criminal history, sheer size, and ability to quickly cause a lot of damage has caused several people in the community to be very concerned for their safety,” AST officer Andrew Adams stated in an official complaint filed in 2018.

Eight years before the church incident, Pinard’s violent and disturbing behavior hit a boiling point, resulting in numerous charges including assault in the second degree, assault in the third degree, criminal mischief in the fourth degree, and cruelty to animals.

Pinard ultimately pleaded guilty to assault and animal cruelty charges involving a nightmarish scene of violent beatings, bestiality and sexual deviance with his spouse and one of his mother’s dogs.

“Orrin stated that he became angry for being bitten, and also because ‘the dog was causing problems in his marriage’ so he bludgeoned the dog with a baseball bat, killing the dog,” AST officer David Bower stated in his official complaint in the case file.

Pinard is currently serving his most recent sentence without bail, according to online court documents. His most recent court appearance was a status hearing Sept. 28, and his next court date is another status hearing Dec. 24 at 2 p.m.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman reporter Jacob Mann at jacob.mann@frontiersman.com