Alaska News

Fairbanks man, son of senator, sentenced to 6 years for indecent exposure

The son of a prominent Fairbanks state senator was found guilty of indecent exposure involving a minor and sentenced to a six-year prison term Monday, with the senator appointed to hold a $7,500 trust fund for the victim.

Devin Kelly, 30, pleaded guilty in district court in Fairbanks to one felony count of indecent exposure for masturbating in front of a person under 16 years old. A second felony charge, for sexual penetration of a minor under 13 years old, was dismissed.

Kelly's father, state senator Pete Kelly, a Fairbanks Republican, was present at a court hearing Monday and agreed to be responsible for a $7,500 trust account for counseling for the victim.

Devin Kelly is expected to be released from prison in early 2018 based on time already served. He'll be on probation for 10 years, then be required to register as a sex offender for 15 years.

The Fairbanks district attorney, Greggory Olson, referred questions about the case to the prosecutor who worked on it, Earl Peterson. Peterson couldn't be reached for comment.

Nathaniel Herz

Anchorage-based independent journalist Nathaniel Herz has been a reporter in Alaska for nearly a decade, with stints at the Anchorage Daily News and Alaska Public Media. Read his newsletter, Northern Journal, at natherz.substack.com

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