Crime & Courts

Troopers: Second Mat-Su foster parent charged with sexually abusing child

A 62-year-old Wasilla man has been charged with sexually abusing an 8-year-old in his care as a foster parent, Alaska State Troopers say.

Michael Felch was indicted by a Palmer grand jury Friday, according to a state database of court records. He was arrested on a no-bail warrant Wednesday night and is jailed at Mat-Su Pretrial Facility, according to an inmate database.

Felch is a licensed foster parent but had only one placement and currently has no children in the home, troopers said.

He is the second Mat-Su man to be charged with sexually abusing children in foster care in recent days.

A 66-year-old Wasilla man was arrested in late April on charges stemming from a report last year that he sexually abused foster children in his care. Robert Akens was having “inappropriate conduct” with children in his care, troopers said at the time. It’s not clear how many children were involved.

Akens also taught in the Mat-Su school district from 1994 to 2002, according to a district spokeswoman. The district declined to release any additional information including where Akens taught and whether there were complaints about his conduct.

He remained jailed at Goose Creek Correctional Center on $100,000 bail as of Thursday, according to inmate and state courts databases.

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Felch came to the attention of authorities in mid-April when the troopers’ child-abuse investigation unit received a report of inappropriate contact, according to an online dispatch posted Wednesday.

“The child was interviewed at the Children’s Place, in Wasilla, and disclosed being sexually abused by Michael Felch,” the dispatch stated. “Michael Felch was interviewed and corroborated some of the statements made by the 8 year old and denied others.”

Felch was indicted on one count of first-degree sexual abuse of a minor, a felony, and two counts of second-degree sexual abuse of a minor.

Zaz Hollander

Zaz Hollander is a veteran journalist based in the Mat-Su and is currently an ADN local news editor and reporter. She covers breaking news, the Mat-Su region, aviation and general assignments. Contact her at zhollander@adn.com.

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