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Press Release

Alaska Fugitive Sentenced for Possession of Child Pornography

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Alaska
Anyone with Information on Fugitive’s Whereabouts are Encouraged to Call FBI

Anchorage, Alaska – U.S. Attorney Bryan Schroder announced that an Anchorage man, who is currently a fugitive, was sentenced yesterday in federal court for possessing images of child pornography. 

Joshua Michael Evans, 45, of Eagle River, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Sharon L. Gleason, to serve 14 years in prison, followed by a lifetime term of supervised release.  Evans previously pleaded guilty on Nov. 2, 2016, to possession of child pornography and was placed on pretrial release pending sentencing.  In October 2017, shortly before he was scheduled to be sentenced, Evans disappeared, prompting a manhunt by U.S. Probation, the FBI, and Alaska State Troopers.  Evans remains at large.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office advises that anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Joshua Evans are encouraged to call FBI Anchorage Field Office at 907-276-4441.

According to court documents, in May 2016, Evans became the subject of a federal investigation after law enforcement officials discovered Evans was using the internet to download videos and images of child sexual exploitation.  Evans has a previous conviction from 2001 by the State of Alaska for sexual abuse of a minor.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”) and the Anchorage Police Department (“APD”) conducted the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of this case.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Alexander prosecuted the case.  The U.S. Attorney’s Office commends the efforts of U.S. Probation, FBI, and the Alaska State Troopers in responding to Evans’ disappearance. 

This prosecution is part of the Department of Justice ongoing Project Safe Child (PSC) initiative. In May 2006, DOJ launched Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse.  Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices, Project Safe Childhood combines federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, identify and rescue victims and to educate the public about safe Internet use, thereby reducing the risk that children might fall prey to online sexual predators.  For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov or call the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Alaska.

Updated March 8, 2018

Topic
Project Safe Childhood
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