A Wasilla man has been sentenced to 50 years in federal prison, followed by a lifetime of supervised release, for the kidnapping and sexual assault of a 14-year-old girl in 2022. David Anderson, aged 52, was found guilty of coercing the victim into his vehicle at gunpoint after she exited her school bus in Wasilla. He then assaulted her in a remote area before leaving her restrained in the woods.
The Alaska State Troopers arrested Anderson later that day based on the victim’s description and statements. Investigations revealed that Anderson had deliberately sought out a victim while carrying a revolver. At the time, he was already a convicted sex offender due to a previous conviction in 2000 for sexually assaulting a minor.
Anderson pleaded guilty on January 13, 2025, to charges of kidnapping a minor and committing an offense as a registered sex offender. In addition to the federal sentence, Anderson is also serving an 85-year state sentence imposed by the State of Alaska Department of Law on October 7, 2024.
U.S. Attorney Michael J. Heyman stated, “Mr. Anderson perpetrated an unimaginable random act of horror and will spend the rest of his life in the only appropriate place, prison.” He praised both the survivor’s bravery and the investigation efforts by law enforcement agencies.
Alaska State Trooper Colonel Maurice Hughes emphasized that this dual sentencing ensures Anderson will never return to harm another child within their community. “Your Alaska State Troopers’ most important duty is to protect our most vulnerable,” he said.
Special Agent in Charge Rebecca Day from the FBI Anchorage Field Office highlighted both the survivor’s courage and law enforcement’s commitment: “While walking home from school, an innocent child was violently kidnapped and assaulted – not only was this a horrific attack on a child but also on the very fabric of our community.”
The case was investigated by both federal and state authorities including assistance from the FBI’s Joint Child Abduction Rapid Deployment Team (J-CARD), which offers specialized support during critical child abduction cases.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Chris Schroeder and Adam Alexander prosecuted this case.
