Press Release

Judge Sentences Anchorage Man to 29 Years for Child Sexual Abuse

March 6, 2015

(ANCHORAGE, Alaska) – On March 5, 2015, Judge Kevin Saxby sentenced 43 year old Jamie Cordell to a combined sentence of 29 years of incarceration for sexually abusing his daughter over a period of several years. Cordell’s attorney requested a mitigated sentence of 17 years to serve after a clinical psychologist testified that Cordell had "above average prospects for rehabilitation," rated as “low” for risk of reoffending, and described Cordell as “someone who learns from his mistakes.” On cross-examination, however, Dr. Zelig acknowledged that these scores could not fully account for the abuse shown at trial.

Judge Saxby rejected Cordell’s request for a mitigated sentence, describing Cordell’s conduct as “systemic sexual abuse” over several years. Cordell was originally charged with eight counts of abuse involving three separate victims, but a jury acquitted him of the charges involving two of the alleged victims in March 2014 after a nearly month-long trial. The jury convicted him of two counts of Sexual Abuse of a Minor in the Second Degree for conduct that occurred in 2008 and 2009, and one count of Sexual Abuse of a Minor in the First Degree for conduct that occurred in 2011.

In addition to the 29 years to serve, Judge Saxby imposed five additional years of suspended time and placed Cordell on probation for 15 years once he is released from incarceration. Cordell will have to serve nearly 20 years before he is eligible for parole.

CONTACT: Assistant District Attorney Jason Gist @ (907) 269-6300 or jason.gist@alaska.gov at the Anchorage District Attorney’s Office.

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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.