Press Release

Court imposes maximum sentence in Anchorage strangulation attack

July 12, 2019

(Anchorage, AK) – An Anchorage judge yesterday issued a maximum 10-year sentence to 45-year-old Alvin Wassillie on charges of Assault in the Second Degree and Assault in the Fourth Degree.

The charges stemmed from an assault on a woman near 15th and Ingra Streets in August 2016. Evidence at trial showed that Wassillie dragged the victim into a wooded area and strangled her. The victim escaped from Wassillie after losing several items of clothing and her cellphone but was able to call police from a nearby gas station. Wassillie was apprehended shortly thereafter and has been in custody since that date.

Wassillie was originally charged with Sexual Assault in the First Degree, Attempted Sexual Assault in the First Degree, Sexual Assault in the Second Degree as well as Assault in the Second and Fourth Degrees. In March, an Anchorage jury acquitted Wassillie of the sexual assault counts but found him guilty of the other assault charges. At the sentencing hearing Thursday, Superior Court Judge Dwayne McConnell indicated that despite the jury’s verdicts he believed Wassillie had at least attempted to commit a sexual assault.

Assistant District Attorney Arne Soldwedel asked the court to impose the maximum 10-year sentence for the Assault in the Second Degree conviction. Noting Wassillie’s 37 prior criminal convictions for assaults and other crimes, and the seriousness of the present offense, the court deemed Wassillie a “worst offender.” The court made additional special findings and restricted Wassillie’s eligibility for discretionary parole.

CONTACT: Assistant District Attorney Arne Soldwedel at (907) 269-6300.

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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.