ANCHORAGE – A village police officer from the northwest Alaska community of Kobuk was arrested Thursday for the sexual abuse of a minor, troopers said.
Leon Outwater, 21, was relieved of his duties and faces three felony abuse charges after Alaska State Troopers said he sent text messages to a 12-year-old girl asking her to have sex with him. According to trooper dispatch, investigation revealed Outwater had solicited the girl at least 20 times in 24 hours.
Troopers said Outwater used a Village of Kobuk cell phone to contact the girl, and solicited sex from her while on duty as a Kobuk police officer. He also attempted to delete the text messages from his phone after he was relieved of his duties, troopers said.
Law enforcement officers were first alerted to the alleged abuse after the girl’s mother contacted troopers in Kotzebue and said she was concerned for her daughter’s safety. The Northwest Arctic Borough Village Public Safety Officer stationed in Shugnak helped troopers with their investigation.
Outwater was taken to the Kotzebue Regional Jail for arraignment.