Troopers arrest Soldotna man on attempted sexual abuse, exposure counts

Alaska State Troopers arrested Aldon Burns, 23, of Soldotna on Thursday, nearly two months after a report that he exposed himself to two minors in Soldotna.

Burns is charged with two counts of attempted sexual abuse of a minor in the first degree and two counts of indecent exposure in the second degree, according to a trooper dispatch posted by A Detachment. Troopers received the initial report on June 9 at 8:40 p.m. The Alaska Bureau of Investigation assisted by interviewing both minors.

The charges are accusations, not findings. "Any charges reported in these press releases are merely accusations and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty," the Department of Public Safety said in the dispatch. The dispatch contains only the troopers' account. It includes no response from Burns and does not say whether he has an attorney.

The dispatch does not weigh in on how such cases should be handled, but two advocacy groups outside this case offer contrasting emphases relevant to allegations involving minors. The Alaska Network on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault says such cases require survivor-centered support services and careful handling by authorities. The Innocence Project says sexual abuse allegations can cause irreversible harm if rushed or mishandled. Neither organization has commented on Burns' case specifically.

The dispatch does not list where Burns is being held or when he is scheduled to appear in court.