Press Release

Anchorage Man Sentenced for Possessing Child Pornography

May 10, 2013

On May 10, 2013, 57 year old Mark Coombs of Anchorage, Alaska was sentenced to prison for possession of child pornography.

Coombs was arrested in November 2012 following an undercover investigation by investigators from the Anchorage Police Department and members of the Alaska Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. Coombs sent videos depicting the sexual abuse of young children to Anchorage Police Department Detective Tammy Dunn. Subsequent forensic examination of Coombs' digital devices revealed nearly 1000 images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of young children. Coombs had organized these images and videos of abuse and saved them onto cds and thumb drives.

The investigation did not reveal that Coombs harmed or attempted to harm any children in Alaska. However, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children identified some of the victims depicted in the child pornography as children who were previously abused and exploited.

The Anchorage Superior Court sentenced Coombs to four years in prison for possession of child pornography. Upon his release from prison, Coombs will be on probation for six years and will be required to register as a sex offender for fifteen years. If Coombs violates his probation conditions, he could be sent to prison for another four years

CONTACT: Assistant Attorney General Marika Athens @ (907) 269-6326 at the Office of Special Prosecutions.

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Department Media Contacts: Communications Director Patty Sullivan at patty.sullivan@alaska.gov or (907) 269-6368. Information Officer Sam Curtis at sam.curtis@alaska.gov or (907) 269-6269.