A 21-year-old Levelock man was arrested on charges in a case involving sexual abuse of a 14-year-old related to the him.
Alaska State Troopers arrested Eric Andrew Tallekpalek, who is accused of having sex with a 14-year-old female relative relative on July 30, following an investigation that started with a tip to the Office of Children’s Services.
Tallekpalek was arrested on a charge of second-degree sexual abuse of a minor, which is a class B felony.
Tallekpalek told authorities he was drunk but thought the sex was consensual.
Children’s Services notified state troopers of the alleged crime on Aug. 9, and an investigation was opened.
The victim told authorities that Tallekpalek was drunk and had followed her home through the village.
Despite her protests, he pulled her into the woods and had sex with her.
Tallekpalek acknowledged having sex with the teenager twice, once before the fishing season, and once after, in an interview with King Salmon-based trooper Jesse Lopez.
“Tallekpalek went on to say the second time he had sex was when he got back from fishing he was drinking a lot and could barely remember but he heard about it,” Lopez said in a statement.
Bail was set at $20,000 at his arraignment Wednesday, Aug. 29.
A pre-indictment hearing has been scheduled for Sept. 9.
