Crime & Courts

Troopers: Ex-Kenai hockey coach’s sex abuse charges span 14 years

A former Kenai Peninsula school hockey coach sexually abused at least half a dozen children and made child pornography in a string of crimes dating back more than a decade, Alaska State Troopers say.

Sterling resident Bradley Elliott, 55, faces 37 counts ranging from sexual abuse of a minor to misconduct involving controlled substances in the case. Court records Friday identified seven of 10 unspecified charges in the case as counts of illegally viewing or photographing genitalia.

Troopers said Elliott was arrested Wednesday in the wake of a search warrant served at his home.

Kenai Peninsula Borough School District spokeswoman Pegge Erkeneff said Elliott had worked for the district as a junior varsity hockey coach at Kenai Central High School during the 2005-06 school year. Staff were still trying to confirm whether Elliott had worked at Soldotna High School on a paid or volunteer basis, as reported Thursday by the Peninsula Clarion newspaper.

Troopers spokeswoman Megan Peters said Friday that the alleged offenses date back to 2002, spanning the 14 years since. She requested that media refrain from publicizing explicit details of the abuse to avoid "re-victimizing" the children Elliott allegedly harmed.

"The investigation began in December 2015 after a citizen approached AST with concerns that one of their family members had been abused by Elliott," Peters wrote in an email. "At this time the charges against Elliott reference seven separate victims."

Asked about the controlled-substances charge, Peters said it stemmed from the use of drugs as an incentive for children to cooperate.

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"In order for Elliott to exert influence and control over the victims, the controlled substances, in this case steroids, were being furnished to the victims as a form of bribery," Peters wrote.

Troopers ask anyone who knows of other minors victimized by Elliott to call investigator Austin MacDonald at 907-260-2737.

Chris Klint

Chris Klint is a former ADN reporter who covered breaking news.

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