Bethel former educator sentenced for attempted sexual enticement

A former principal for the Lower Kuskokwim School District in Bethel has been sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for trying to sexually entice a minor, the U.S. Attorney’s office said.

Christopher Allen Carmichael also faces a lifetime of supervised released, according to court documents, in a case that is part of the Rural Alaska Anti-Violence Enforcement Network initiative to increase engagement, coordination and action on public safety in Alaska Native communities.

Carmichael, 57, pled guilty in November 2020 to attempted coercion and enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity.

The federal investigation began in November 2019 when the Bethel Police Department contacted the FBI regarding Carmichael’s online activities. During the investigation Carmichael began engaging in graphic sexual communications with an undercover FBI agent posing as a fictional 13-year-old girl. In text messages in December 2019, Carmichael graphically described several acts he intended to perform on her. Carmichael also continued to remind the fictional teenager to delete their messages and that it was important they keep referring to her as if she were 18 so that he wouldn’t get into trouble.

The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Justice Department to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse.

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