Press Release

Jury Convicts Galena Man of Sexual Abuse of a Minor in the Second Degree

March 18, 2021

(Nenana, AK) – On March 17, 2021, a jury sitting in Nenana returned a guilty verdict against 42-year-old Mark Huntington of Galena for sexually abusing a minor in April of 2019.  Immediately following the return of the jury’s guilty verdict, Mr. Huntington stipulated to an aggravating factor – that he was 10 or more years older than the victim he was convicted of abusing.  For his conviction for Sexual Abuse of Minor in the Second Degree, Mr. Huntington faces a presumptive sentence of 10 to 25 years imprisonment and a maximum sentence of 99 years imprisonment.

Prior to opening statements, Mr. Huntington also entered pleas of guilty to two counts of Furnishing Alcohol to a Minor and one count of Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor.

Assistant District Attorney Andrew Baldock, who prosecuted the case, thanks the Galena Police Department and Alaska State Troopers for their hard work investigating the crimes.

Mr. Huntington is currently in the custody of the Department of Corrections and is being held on a no bail status.  A scheduling hearing for sentencing will be held on April 8, 2021.

This was the first jury trial held in Interior Alaska since the Alaska Supreme Court suspended jury trials in March 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.  Fairbanks District Attorney Joe Dallaire anticipates more trials to follow as court restrictions ease and in the meantime commends ADA Baldock and Paralegal Jennifer McCormick for their diligence and professionalism in the pursuit of justice on this case.

CONTACT: District Attorney Joe Dallaire joe.dallaire@alaska.gov or Assistant District Attorney Andrew Baldock andrew.baldock@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.