Alexander Coxwell, a former Kenai Peninsula Borough School District custodian, was sentenced Tuesday to 15 years in prison for sexual abuse of a minor.
Coxwell was arrested in September after Alaska State Troopers said he had engaged in “an illegal sexual relationship” with a then-14-year-old student in 2013, when he was 42. He was also accused of providing the student with drugs.
Coxwell was initially charged with three counts of first-degree sexual abuse of a minor, three counts of second-degree sexual abuse of a minor and one count of unlawful exploitation of a minor. He pleaded guilty on April 24 to an amended charge of one count second-degree sexual abuse of a minor.
In this instance, based on the ages of Coxwell and the victim, the difference between a first- or second-degree charge is whether Coxwell held a position of authority over the victim. Though Coxwell pleaded guilty to the lesser charge, the plea agreement filed with the court says that he admits to the crime of sexual abuse “while occupying a position of authority and trust.”
Coxwell was sentenced by Superior Court Judge Lance Joanis to 25 years with 10 suspended, making for 15 years incarceration. A fine of $50,000 was also suspended in its entirety. After being released he will face 20 years of probation. He will need to obtain sex offender treatment and sex offender registration, will receive substance abuse evaluation and meet other special conditions.
Joy Hobart, Coxwell’s defense attorney, said that her client deserved leniency for quickly accepting responsibility, and in recognition of his service to the community. She said he’s served in the military, is a substance abuse counselor, was a tribal court judge for the Kenaitze Indian Tribe, and spent “many years” as an assistant instructor with the Sterling Judo Club.
Coxwell said that the crime happened 13 years ago.
“I’d like to state the fact that people can change,” he said. “I have changed.”
Prosecutor Julie Matucheski said that the conduct he pleaded guilty to reaches into 2016. The state’s plea agreement says that Coxwell “acknowledges” that the state can support “dozens of additional counts and potential convictions” of first-degree sexual abuse of a minor.
Reach reporter Jake Dye at jacob.dye@peninsulaclarion.com.
