Anchorage police said they began the investigation in May 2008 after Canete's previous employer, the Air National Guard, found concerning photos, said Anchorage detective Mark Thomas.
The investigation involved multiple agencies, including the military. Authorities decided to let Anchorage police handle the case because the alleged victims live in the city.
"It's a huge hurdle for victims to stand up and confront the person who did this to them," Thomas said of why the investigation took so long. "It takes time to build that courage."
Canete is accused of abusing two teenagers between 1994 and 2001 while he lived in Kodiak.
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