Press Release

Samuel Atchak Sentenced To 115 Years For Murder And Sexual Assault

June 27, 2022

(Bethel, AK) – On Thursday, June 23, Bethel Superior Court Judge Nathaniel Peters sentenced Samuel Atchak to 115 years for the murder and attempted sexual assault of a 19-year-old Chevak woman. Atchak previously pled guilty to murder in the second degree and attempted sexual assault in the first degree pursuant to a plea agreement.

During sentencing, Judge Peters found that Atchak’s offenses were egregious because sexual assault and murder, are among the most serious types of cases in Alaska.

In emotional testimony, the victim’s father described the impact his daughter’s passing has had on the family and asked the court to impose the maximum sentence.

Bethel District Attorney R. Christopher Knowles prosecuted the case.

CONTACT: Bethel District Attorney R. Christopher Knowles at (907) 543-2055

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Department Media Contact: Information Officer Sam Curtis at sam.curtis@alaska.gov or (907) 269-6269.

Due to resource constraints, we no longer post links to referenced records. Records filed in a federal court are readily available at Docket Search or PACER, and records filed in a State of Alaska court are readily available from the Alaska Court System (Trial Courts - Alaska Court System and Search for an Appellate Case). Contact Sam Curtis to request a referenced record that is not readily available from a court or on the internet, or contact law.recordsrequest@alaska.gov to submit a formal Alaska Public Records Act request.