Wasilla man sentenced to 30 years for sexual abuse of a minor

On September 4, Eric Peterson, 41, was sentenced to serve 30 years after being convicted of two consolidated counts of Sexual Abuse of a Minor in the Second Degree in Palmer Superior Court by Judge Tom Jamgochian, according to a press release by the State of Alaska Department of Law.

Peterson will have additional suspended time and a 15-year probationary term following incarceration. Peterson will have to register as a sex offender for life. Peterson originally pleaded guilty in April 2025 and also admitted to a vulnerable victim aggravator.

His convictions stemmed from multiple incidents of sexual abuse of a young girl from 2017-2019, culminating in his arrest in July, 2019, when Peterson was contacted at his residence in Wasilla, arrested and transported to Mat-Su Pretrial. Peterson had faced six counts of sexual abuse of a minor in the first degree and three counts of sexual abuse of a minor in the second degree. Peterson was sentenced pursuant to a plea agreement consolidating his charges. Judge Jamgochian remarked the sexual abuse inflicted lasting harm on the victim.

Assistant District Attorney Melissa Wininger-Howard prosecuted this case. The case was investigated by the Alaska State Troopers.