Nathaniel E. Erfurth, a former teacher at Soldotna High School and president of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District’s teachers union, was arrested Saturday on two charges of sexual abuse of a minor after an investigation that ran for more than a month.
According to a dispatch from the Alaska State Troopers, the agency received a report on April 3 that Erfurth, 34, had sexually abused a minor “over multiple years.”
Erfurth allegedly sexually abused a female juvenile multiple times between 2017 and 2019, according to the Alaska Bureau of Investigation’s Soldotna Major Crimes Unit.
Erfurth was arrested on one count of second-degree sexual abuse of a minor and one count of fourth-degree sexual abuse of a minor.
Per 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.
On Saturday, Erfurth was arrested without incident and taken to Wildwood Pretrial Facility, the dispatch says.
The dispatch notes that in the last two years, he’s been on “full-time release from teaching” while serving as the Kenai Peninsula Education Association president.
KPBSD Superintendent Clayton Holland said Saturday via text that the district is aware of the charges against Erfurth.
“The District is aware of the charges against Mr. Erfurth. Student safety and welfare is the highest priority for the District,” he wrote. “We are working closely with law enforcement in this investigation and are unable to provide further comment at this time.”
Investigators said they did not find evidence that Erfurth had sexually abused any other minors, but are asking anyone with information to contact Alaska State Troopers at 907-262-4453.
This story is developing and will continue to be updated.
Reach reporter Jake Dye at jacob.dye@peninsulaclarion.com.
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