A 33-year-old man is behind bars after a 15-year-old girl reported being sexually assaulted and strangled near Jim Creek earlier this week.
In an online dispatch posted Tuesday, troopers said AST’s Palmer Patrol contacted the Alaska Bureau of Investigation’s Child Abuse Investigation Unit around 4:45 a.m. Tuesday after responding to the reported assault. The 15-year-old girl had identified Chugiak resident Ralph Barenz II as her attacker, and troopers said he was arrested following an investigation.
According to a criminal complaint, the victim knew Barenz. The 15-year-old, her sister and Barenz had been hanging out together at Barenz’s camper near Jim Creek late Monday night when he allegedly attacked the girl. Investigator Sherry Ferno observed red marks on the left side of the girl’s neck. The girl also told authorities that Barenz had yanked out her nose ring and two earrings.
Barenz faces counts of first-degree sexual assault and third-degree assault, troopers said, and was taken to Mat-Su Pretrial where he was held without bail.