Details emerge in case of man facing 76 counts of sexual abuse, assault in rural Alaska

A man facing 76 charges tied to more than a decade of alleged sexual violence against one person in the Southwest Alaska village of Nightmute is contesting extradition after being arrested in Arkansas, according to Alaska State Troopers.

Jeffrey Jackson, 51, faces a 76-count indictment by a Bethel grand jury, including 38 counts of sexual assault, 37 counts of sexual abuse of a minor and one count of third-degree assault, in a case first reported Sept. 9.

"Bethel AST received a call from a person reporting repeated sexual abuse by (Jackson) over multiple years," troopers said in a dispatch. "The victim reported that the abuse started when they were a juvenile and persisted until they were in their mid-20s."

The alleged abuse took place over 15 years, from 1993 to 2008, according to the grand jury indictment. All of the incidents occurred in or around Nightmute, including during a berry-picking trip in nearby hills, at a fish camp and a school, according to the indictment.

The third-degree assault charge is tied to an incident in 2007 or 2008, when Jackson allegedly placed the victim "in fear of serious physical injury" with a gun. All of the charges against Jackson are felonies.

Bethel-based members of the troopers' Violent Offenders Unit investigated the case against Jackson for months. After the indictment was handed down on March 30, troopers obtained a sealed warrant for his arrest on $1 million bail, with a court-approved third-party custodian required for his release.

Marshals in Anchorage and Arkansas said that troopers requested federal help in arresting Jackson, who was taken into custody Monday in Searcy, Arkansas, where he had family. He was held at the White County Jail pending extradition.

"Jackson is contesting extradition to Alaska," troopers wrote. "AST is working through the extradition processes to return Jackson to Alaska."

Bailey Woolfstead, the assistant district attorney in Bethel handling Jackson's case, said Jackson had refused to sign a waiver of extradition in Arkansas court on Wednesday, which would allow his return. Alaska prosecutors now have 90 days to secure a governor's warrant, in which Gov. Bill Walker makes an interstate request for Jackson to be handed over.

"He has to send it to the governor of Arkansas, and at that point Mr. Jackson can be brought back to Alaska," Woolfstead said. "The reality is the case here can't in earnest begin until we've got Mr. Jackson here in Alaska."

Troopers were not aware of any other cases of alleged abuse involving Jackson, spokeswoman Megan Peters said. Anyone with information in the case can contact the Violent Offenders Unit at 907-543-2294.