A former Soldotna High School teacher and head of the local teachers union pleaded not guilty to more than five dozen counts of sex abuse and child pornography charges during an arraignment held at the Kenai Courthouse on Tuesday.
Nathaniel Erfurth faces 61 counts handed down in late June by a Kenai Grand Jury in connection to a report to law enforcement made in April by a former student, who alleges Erfurth “sexually assaulted” her over multiple years while she was a minor. Erfurth was arrested on May 20 on two charges of sexual abuse of a minor. He posted bail on June 8 and was released on house arrest.
In all, the grand jury charged Erfurth with 42 counts of sexual abuse of a minor in the second degree, seven counts of sexual abuse of a minor in the fourth degree and six counts of possession of child pornography.
An updated indictment document filed July 10 clarified six charges against Erfurth that had previously appeared as pending. Erfurth faces six charges of unlawful exploitation of a minor, a class B felony in Alaska.
At least 10 of the alleged crimes by Erfurth occurred at Soldotna High School, including in Erfurth’s classroom, while others allegedly occurred at Erfurth’s residence and the minor’s residence, the indictment says. The indictment says all of the alleged incidents occurred between September 2017 and September 2018.
Under Alaska State Statute, both second- and fourth-degree charges of sexual abuse of a minor describe crimes committed by an adult against someone who is 16 or 17 years old while the perpetrator is at least three years older than the victim and occupying a position of authority over them. The charges describe sexual penetration and sexual contact, respectively.
In the State of Alaska, sexual abuse of a minor in the second degree is a class B felony, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. Possession of child pornography is a class C felony and carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison. Sexual abuse of a minor is a class A misdemeanor and punishable by up to a year in jail and/or a fine of $25,000.
Erfurth’s case is scheduled to go to trial Sept. 5.
Reach reporter Ashlyn O’Hara at ashlyn.ohara@peninsulaclarion.com.
