Devin Peterson’s long list of child pornography-related charges has grown to include two federal charges.
If that name sounds familiar, it’s because the 18-year-old is one of the five Valley teens arrested in connection with David Grunwald’s murder. Alaska State Troopers seized Peterson’s phone during that investigation and found a disturbing video that could send Peterson to prison for decades.
Court documents allege that Peterson recorded 22-year-old Jordan Santistevan having sex with a 15-year-old girl who appeared to be unconscious at a party in the Valley last summer.
On Wednesday, they appeared in state court in Palmer, handcuffed together.
Santistevan is charged with second-degree sexual assault and second-degree sexual abuse of a minor.
Peterson is charged with unlawful exploitation of a minor, or essentially making child pornography, according to the indictment. That’s in addition to six previous counts of possessing child pornography and one count of distributing indecent materials to minors.
Both Santistevan and Peterson entered not guilty pleas on Wednesday.
While the two men were dressed in yellow jumpsuits, many people, including Grunwald’s mother, say they wore blue to the arraignment to show support for the alleged victims of these crimes.
“I’m just horrified that they’ve been getting away with this stuff and if this hadn’t of happened to David, they would still be getting away with this stuff,” Edie Grunwald said. “I feel bad for these people’s families and I feel bad for the community now that we’ve all become aware of this subculture that’s out there.”
A federal grand jury has also approved two federal charges related to the case against Peterson that are separate from the ones he was arraigned on in state court on Wednesday. His federal charges include production and possession of child pornography, according to a Wednesday statement from the office of the U.S. Attorney for Alaska.
Together, both offenses carry fines up to $500,000 and a maximum total of 40 years in prison.
KTVA 11’s Shannon Ballard can be reached via email or on Facebook and Twitter.
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