An attack on a Seward prison inmate by another inmate Friday critically injured the victim, according to Alaska State Troopers.
Troopers said in a written statement Monday that Jason Rak, 25, had assaulted Forrest Ahvakana, 48, late Friday. Charges were said to be pending.
A corrections sergeant at Spring Creek Correctional Center called police dispatchers about 7:30 p.m. Friday to report the alleged assault, according to troopers. Ahvakana was rushed to Alaska Regional Hospital in Anchorage for medical care and was listed in critical condition, troopers said.
Troopers spokeswoman Megan Peters said Ahvakana was beaten, but it was unclear if Rak had also used a weapon.
"We believe, and from what we're seeing, that this was planned and that other people were involved. We're trying to sort all that out, why this happened and who was involved," Peters said. "Dealing with incidents in prison, they're not usually the most cooperative people with law enforcement."
Peters said she did not know how Ahvakana fared Monday but said she believed he was still receiving medical treatment.
A spokeswoman for Alaska Regional said there was no record of Ahvakana at the hospital and therefore was unable to give an update on his status as a potential patient. However, prison inmates are often placed in confidential status, she said.
According to court records, Rak pleaded guilty to charges of attempted murder, assault and weapons misconduct in a 2008 shooting outside the Dimond Center that injured two men.
A jury convicted Ahvakana in 2009 on charges of assault and burglary, court records say.
Reach Casey Grove at casey.grove@adn.com or 257-4343. Twitter updates: twitter.com/kcgrove.
By CASEY GROVE