Press Release

Anchorage Pastor to be Sentenced for Distributing Child Pornography

March 19, 2015

(ANCHORAGE Alaska) On March 27, 205 at 2:00 p.m., 57-year-old Ronald Rathbun will be sentenced by Judge Michael Spaan for Distributing Child Pornography. Rathbun plead guilty to a single count of Distributing Child Pornography. Rathbun agreed to a sentence of at least 10 years in prison to serve and admitted the conduct committed is amongst the most serious of offenses and involved more than one victim.

Rathbun’s conduct was discovered by Alaska State Troopers investigating online child pornography distribution. Anchorage Police took over the investigation and secured a search warrant in November 2013. When Anchorage Police executed the search warrant they discovered Rathbun was actively distributing child pornography online as police entered his residence. A forensic search of Rathbun’s computers revealed thousands of images of child pornography.

The court will determine Rathbun’s sentence.

CONTACT: Assistant District Attorney Daniel Shorey at (907) 269-6369 or daniel.shorey@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.