Fort Wainwright soldier sentenced to 15 years in prison for sexually abusing teenager | Local News

A Fort Wainwright soldier was sentenced Tuesday to 15 years in prison for sexually abusing a teenage girl in Fairbanks.Michael Wayne Murray, 24, pleaded guilty in December to second-degree sexual abuse of a minor. The state dismissed four counts of second-degree sexual abuse of a minor, one count of possession of child pornography and two felony counts of distributing indecent material to minors.Alaska State Troopers received a report in October 2021 that a juvenile male had been sexually assaulted by an adult in Fairbanks, according to a trooper dispatch. Officers discovered Murray had sexually assaulted a 15-year-old male over several months, according to charging documents.According to the criminal complaint, Murray and the victim met at a party in September 2020 and began communicating through Snapchat, a social media application.Charging documents said the two continued their sexual relationship until June 2021. The victim told officers that Murray frequently sneaked into her bedroom. Murray admitted during questioning that he had a sexual relationship with the victim and that he would sneak into the victim's bedroom with a ladder.Murray was a soldier at Fort Wainwright at the time of the incident.Assistant District Attorney Kathryn Mason said the deal focuses on rehabilitation and provides for a significant period of isolation.According to Mason, Murray had hundreds of images of individuals performing sexual acts on his devices at the time of his arrest.Defense attorney Jay Fulk said Murray is a young man who takes responsibility for his actions. The time served and supervised probation reflect community condemnation of Murray's actions, Fulk said.Fulk said the release conditions are tailored to Murray's rehabilitation efforts and the deal is "fair and just."Murray said: “I would like to apologize to the court for this event occurring. It was probably a traumatic event for [the victim]This will never happen again.”Superior Court Judge Thomas Temple sentenced Murray to 15 years in prison, nine of which were suspended, and 15 years of probation. Murray will have to register as a sex offender for 15 years and is not allowed to contact the victim.Temple said Murray is young and has rehab potential. Sexual abuse of a minor “is one of the most despised crimes in our society,” Temple said, adding that the agreement reflects the community's condemnation and reaffirmation of society's norms.