Press Release

Former UAA Professor Steven Pyle to Face Sentencing for Sexual Abuse of a Minor

January 22, 2015

(ANCHORAGE Alaska) – On January 23, 2015, at 2:00 p.m., 49-year-old Steven Pyle will be sentenced by Judge Phillip R. Volland for sexually abusing M.H., a 9-year-old girl who was staying with Pyle and his wife in their Anchorage home. Pyle pleaded guilty to a single, consolidated count of attempted sexual abuse of a minor in the first degree. Pyle faces a presumptive sentence of between 20 and 30 years in jail with a maximum possible sentence of 99 years.

M.H. had been sent to stay with Pyle and his wife by her family. In December of 2013, Pyle began to sexually abuse her. In April of 2014, Pyle’s wife discovered him coming out of M.H.’s room in the middle of the night. She confronted him about what he was doing and he admitted that he was sexually abusing M.H. When M.H. was interviewed by detectives she disclosed that Pyle had touched her and engaged in sexual penetration on multiple occasions. Pyle was indicted in May of 2014 on three counts of sexual abuse of a minor in the first degree and another three counts of sexual abuse of a minor in the second degree. As part of a plea agreement, Pyle pled to a single, consolidated count of attempted sexual abuse of a minor in the first degree encompassing all of the indicted conduct. The Court will determine Pyle’s sentence.

CONTACT: Assistant District Attorney Jack McKenna at (907) 269-6377 or jack.mckenna@alaska.gov.

# # #

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.