Crime & Courts

Former teacher of Chugiak Christian school gets 10 years for sexually abusing student

A former Birchwood Christian School teacher was sentenced Monday to 10 years in prison for sexually abusing a 15-year-old student, according to a state prosecutor.

Oly Sugay, 35, received 15 years with five years suspended on a single charge of second-degree sexual abuse of a minor, said Assistant District Attorney Paul Miovas. The sentence was part of a plea deal and not left to the discretion of the court, Miovas said.

Sugay will have to register as a sex offender for 15 years once he finishes his prison term.

Sugay and the victim told authorities the abuse took place for more than a month in summer 2015, according to the charging document. Sexual encounters between the two took place in a camper outside Sugay's house.

The victim's grandparents found excessive text messages between the girl and Sugay, prompting a criminal investigation, police said.

Miovas said it was important to note during the sentencing that Sugay was more than the victim's teacher. The prosecutor described Sugay as an adjunct teacher who taught an information technology class at the school in Chugiak, which the girl attended.

"More importantly, especially from the family's perspective, is that he was a family friend and he violated the trust he had in that capacity," Miovas said.

Miovas examined similar cases involving the abuse of 15-year-olds from people in positions of authority. Those defendants received similar sentences, he said.

Jerzy Shedlock

Jerzy Shedlock is a former reporter for Alaska Dispatch News. He left the ADN in 2017.

ADVERTISEMENT