A substitute village police officer in an Inupiat Eskimo village in northwest Alaska is facing charges that he provided alcohol to two minors, one of which was later found dead.
Alaska State Troopers say 29-year-old Brent Norton of Selawik gave alcohol to a 16-year-old girl and a 17-year-old girl this week. Troopers also allege he sexually assaulted the 16-year-old after she became incapacitated, and she was later found dead.
He’s been charged with felony counts of providing alcohol to minors and sexual assault. Troopers say the Office of Special Prosecutions will review the case and autopsy results and decide if additional charges will be filed.
KTUU reports Norton also faces charges for previously giving alcohol to a 13-year-old girl on two occasions. He was awaiting trial on these charges when the 16-year-old girl died.
He was being held without bail. A message left with the public defender’s office in Kotzebue, which has been assigned to represent him, wasn’t immediately returned Thursday to The Associated Press.
