A Palmer grand jury has indicted a state Department of Corrections officer charged with sexually abusing a Palmer teenager.
Joel Larson, a 14-year veteran of the department, worked at Palmer Correctional Center. Grand jurors last week handed up an indictment on five counts of first- and second-degree sexual abuse of a minor, all felonies.
Larson was arrested in late September after the 17-year-old victim recorded a conversation with him as he allegedly talked about prior sexual relations with her, according to previous reports. The girl was cooperating with Wasilla police. Larson admitted nothing during his arrest, according to a police affidavit referenced in the report.
The girl originally reported the alleged abuse in 2006, at 15, but recanted her statement under pressure from family members, according to previous reports.
Larson is scheduled for a pre-trial conference Nov. 28 in Palmer Superior Court.
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