Press Release

Anchorage Man Sentenced to Serve 46 Years for Sexually Abusing and Taking a Nude Photograph of a 13 Year Old

May 29, 2019

(Anchorage, Alaska) - On Tuesday, May 28, 2019, pro tem Superior Court Judge Jack Smith sentenced 40-year-old Richard Abrahamson to a total of 46 years in prison for sexually abusing a 13-year-old boy. Abrahamson’s sentence followed his conviction after a three-week jury trial in January 2019 for three counts of sexual abuse of a minor in the first degree, three counts of sexual abuse of a minor in the second degree, three counts of sexual abuse of a minor in the third degree and one count of unlawful exploitation of a minor.

In April 2016, a 13-year old Anchorage child disclosed to his mother that Abrahamson had sexually abused him on two occasions while acting as the minor’s babysitter. The victim reported that Abrahamson had also taken a nude photograph of the boy during the sexual abuse. The child’s mother reported the incident to the Anchorage Police and APD’s Crimes Against Children Unit responded. As part of their response, detectives with the Crimes Against Children Unit interviewed the child and conducted an investigation into the allegations. The Department of Law’s Office of Special Prosecutions prosecuted the case.

At the sentencing hearing, Judge Smith heard statements from the victim’s mother and from Mr. Abrahamson.  Judge Smith sentenced Abrahamson to serve a total of 46 years in prison, with an additional 25 years of suspended time. Abrahamson will be on probation for 15 years and will be required to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life.

CONTACT: Assistant Attorney General Jenna Gruenstein at (907) 269-6447 or jenna.gruenstein@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.