Wasilla doctor, business owner arrested, charged with possessing child pornography

A Wasilla doctor practicing at Alaska Brain Center was arrested Thursday after a federal grand jury in Alaska returned an indictment charging him with possessing child pornography.

According to court documents, on March 17, Jeffery Sponsler, 67, knowingly possessed and accessed with intent to view a computer that contained child sexual abuse materials (CSAM) depicting a prepubescent minor and a minor who had not attained 12 years of age.

Sponsler also owns Alaska Music and Arts, a music, karate and dance studio for children.

The FBI searched Sponsler’s home after they received a tip about Sponsler’s alleged possession of and access to child pornography. From the search, law enforcement seized multiple computers and electronic devices, including desktop computers, laptops, external hard drives, memory cards, DVDs and VHS tapes. The FBI is actively reviewing these devices. Court documents allege that an initial review of the devices revealed they contained videos and images primarily showing adults and minors participating in nude beauty contests. It is further alleged that Sponsler then further edited and enhanced the photos to focus on young girls’ genitalia and created slideshows with the edited images. The slideshow focused on the genitalia of girls roughly 5-12 years in age.

Sponsler is charged with one count of possession of child pornography. The defendant is scheduled for his initial court appearance June 9, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kyle F. Reardon of the U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska. If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in prison. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.