Wasilla man charged with more than 40 counts of sexual abuse of a minor

PALMER — A Wasilla man charged with sexually abusing a 15-year-old has been indicted on 45 more criminal counts.

A Palmer grand jury returned the indictment today against Emmanuel Cancel, 30, after additional alleged sexual assault victims came forward since his June 21 arrest on the original charge, according to the Alaska Bureau of Investigation.

The charges against Cancel include 41 counts of first-degree sexual abuse of a minor, one count of second-degree sexual abuse of a minor, two counts of misconduct involving a controlled substance in the first degree and a count of third-degree misconduct involving a controlled substance.

Cancel remains in custody at the Mat-Su Pre-Trial Facility on $100,000 cash bail. He will be arraigned on the 45 new charges Tuesday.

In addition to today’s indictment, the ABI Child Abuse Investigation Unit is continuing to investigate and identify additional potential victims. Anyone with information pertaining to the investigation is asked to contact Investigator Mark Granda at 373-6367.