Press Release

Timothy Walunga Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for 2014 Sexual Assault

September 7, 2017

(ANCHORAGE, Alaska) Today, September 7, 2017, Superior Court Judge Michael Corey sentenced 58 year-old Timothy Walunga to serve 15 years in prison for a sexual assault he committed in 2014. Walunga was convicted by an Anchorage jury of sexual assault in the third degree in January 2017. Walunga faced a presumptive sentence of 15 to 25 years in prison because he had a prior conviction for a sexual assault.

The testimony at trial revealed that on June 6, 2014, two U.S. Army soldiers who were been shopping for cars at an Anchorage dealership spotted Walunga sexually assaulting an incapacitated female near the car lot. The soldiers challenged Walunga, called 911 and followed him as he walked away from the scene. The State Crime Detection Laboratory confirmed that the victim’s DNA was present on Walunga’s hands. The victim passed away in December 2015 of unrelated causes.

Judge Corey stated that he considered the sentencing factors of community condemnation and the reaffirmation of societal norms to be “at the top of the list” in this case. He also found that Walunga’s prospects for rehabilitation were unlikely given his criminal history. Judge Corey suspended an additional five years in prison, placed Walunga on probation for five years and noted that Walunga will be required to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life when he is released.

CONTACT: For more details, contact Assistant District Attorney Arne F. Soldwedel at (907) 269-6300 or arne.soldwedel@alaska.gov.

More information about the Anchorage District Attorney’s Office is available at http://www.law.alaska.gov/department/criminal/adao.html.

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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.