Wasilla man charged with sex crimes

ANCHORAGE — A months-long investigation of a Wasilla man has resulted in an arrest, authorities said.

Conrad Wade Thomas, 47, faces 17 felony counts, including five counts of distribution of child pornography, seven counts of possession of child pornography, three counts of photography, and two counts of unlawful exploitation of a minor by making child pornography, according to an Alaska State Troopers media release.

Law enforcement officials arrested Thomas Monday in Wasilla.

Troopers with the Alaska Bureau of Investigation’s Technical Crimes Unit had received tips in February and June that a suspect near Wasilla was using an Internet account to upload images of juvenile sex abuse to the Internet. Troopers now say that suspect is Thomas.

Over the course of the investigation, Thomas also surreptitiously filmed a juvenile at a Wasilla residence between 2011 and 2013, authorities say.

A court records database showed Thomas had faced only minor traffic offenses and civil cases since about 1995.

A borough property records search for Thomas’ name turned up an address along Parkview Circle in Wasilla, though it wasn’t clear from the release if this was the residence mentioned.

Thomas remained in the Anchorage jail Monday afternoon on a $50,000 arrest warrant with court-approved third-party custodial requirements.

Contact Brian O’Connor at 352-2269 or brian.oconnor@frontiersman.com.