Press Release

Three Sex Offenders Sentenced Today

January 16, 2015

Two convicted sex offenders in Anchorage and one in Sand Point were sentenced in four different cases today:

James Griffith was sentenced this morning by Judge Schally in Sand Point in case numbers 3SP-11-103CR and 3SP-13-138CR. In 3SP-11-103, Griffith was sentenced to 13 years with five years suspended for sexually abusing an autistic seven year old child. In 3SP-13-138CR, Griffith was sentenced to 10 years with five suspended for attempting to sexually abuse another child while on conditions of release set by the court in the first case. The composite sentence imposed in the two cases was 23 years with 10 years suspended, 15 years of probation, and lifetime sex offender registration.

In Anchorage case number 3AN-14-01106CR, Jesse Occhino was sentenced to a term of imprisonment of six years with three years suspended and five years’ probation for possession of child pornography. Judge Saxby commented during sentencing that “child pornography is a destructive force in our society,” and that “every person in the chain bears some measure of responsibility.” Occhino will be required to register as a sex offender for 15 years following his release.

In Anchorage case 3AN-14-04078CR, Gregory Edwards was sentenced by Judge Volland to a term of imprisonment of 5 years with 33 months suspended for a period of 5 years. Edwards possessed hundreds of videos depicting child sexual abuse and sexual assault, and will be required to register as a sex offender for a period of 15 years following his release from custody.

According to Assistant Attorney General Adam Alexander, the sentences imposed today in these matters “reflect the hard work done by state and local law enforcement agencies and the serious penalties imposed by our courts even for first time offenders when it comes to crimes of child sexual exploitation.”

CONTACT: Assistant Attorney General Adam Alexander at (907) 269-6339 or Adam.Alexander@alaska.gov.

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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.