A Soldotna man was arrested Friday in connection with an incident of indecent exposure reported Wednesday by staff at K-Beach Elementary School.
Christopher Adams, 24, was arrested Friday by the Soldotna Police Department after Adams was interviewed in connection to a report made by school administrators on Wednesday.
The department said in a Friday press release that officers responded to the school after administrators reported a potentially inappropriate interaction between a cultural liaison with the Kenaitze Indian Tribe and a student. Officers began an investigation into whether Adams had intentionally exposed his genitals in a provocative manner to a student in the bathroom, the department said.
Police say the school district immediately relieved Adams of his duties when the accusation was made, banned him from all campuses and removed him from the premises.
“Officers initiated an extensive investigation into the reported allegations over the following two days,” the release says.
Adams reported to the Soldotna Police Department on Friday morning for an interview and was then arrested on one charge of indecent exposure in the second degree after the interview concluded. The department said there are “ongoing elements” of the investigation that will prevent any additional information from being released at this time.
A message distributed Friday by KPBSD staff to families of students attending Kalifornsky Beach Elementary School says that Adams is not an employee of the district, but rather of the Kenaitze Indian Tribe, who assigned him to the school. The same message says that school administrators immediately contacted the district and law enforcement after learning of the allegations.
“We are taking this incident very seriously as the safety of our students is the top priority,” the message says. “KPBSD is fully cooperating with law enforcement in this ongoing investigation.”
In a statement published Friday, the Kenaitze Indian Tribe said it is aware of an investigation being conducted into one of its employees working in a KPBSD facility. The statement says further that the tribe is cooperating with both the Soldotna Police Department and with KPBSD.
“The tribe takes the safety of those it serves and the community seriously,” the statement says. “It completes a thorough criminal history background check of all employees, both at their time of hire and periodically thereafter.”
Alaska State Statute says that a person commits the crime of indecent exposure in the second degree when that person knowingly exposes their genitals in the presence of another person with reckless disregard for the “offensive, insulting, or frightening effect the act may have.”
Indecent exposure in the second degree to a person who is under 16 years old is a class A misdemeanor in the State of Alaska. A class A misdemeanor conviction carries a potential sentence of up to one year in jail and/or a $25,000 fine, according to the Alaska Court System. Indecent exposure in the second degree in front of a person older than 16 is a class B misdemeanor and carries a potential sentence of up to 90 days and/or a fine of up to $2,000.
The Soldotna Police Department is directing parents of K-Beach students to contact KPBSD during normal business hours with questions or concerns about the incident at 907-714-8888.
Reach reporter Ashlyn O’Hara at ashlyn.ohara@peninsulaclarion.com.
