Cases in Alaska part of nationwide crackdown resulting in nearly 300 arrests of suspected child sexual abuse offenders, according to DOJ

By Mark Sabbatini

Juneau Independent

Three Alaska men, two of them from the Southeast Panhandle, have been indicted on federal child sex offense charges as part of a nationwide operation involving nearly 300 suspects, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

"The coordinated effort was executed over the course of two weeks by all 56 FBI field offices, the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) in the Department’s Criminal Division, and U.S. Attorneys’ offices around the country," press releases for each of the suspects issued by DOJ on Friday note.

The Alaska defendants are:

• Dwight Chris John, 74, a former Ketchikan church elder, indicted on one count of sexual exploitation of children outside the U.S. and one count of possession of child pornography. DOJ asserts that between March and November of 2019 he "induced a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct while outside the U.S. in order to produce visual depictions of such conduct." In addition, "beginning on Nov. 1, 2019, and continuing through May 16, 2024, John knowingly possessed (child sexual abuse material) in Alaska. The CSAM allegedly involved a prepubescent minor and a minor who had not attained 12 years of age." John is already serving a 20-year prison sentence for felony second-degree sexual abuse of a minor.

• Adam Pool, 39, of Pelican, indicted on one count of advertising child pornography and one count of distribution of child pornography. A DOJ release states that between July 5-20, 2024, he "knowingly made a notice and advertisement seeking and offering to exchange CSAM and knowingly distributed CSAM via the internet."

• Petngalria Paul, 28, of Kipnuk, indicted on one count of distribution of child pornography, one count of receipt of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography. DOJ asserts that between Aug. 11-13, 2025, he "distributed, received and possessed child sexual abuse materials within Alaska."

"These cases were brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice," the releases note.

• Contact Mark Sabbatini at editor@juneauindependent.com or (907) 957-2306.