http://peninsulaclarion.com/crime-and-courts/2016-09-03/former-karate-teacher-pleads-guilty-to-sex-abuse
Former karate teacher pleads guilty to sex abuse
Posted: September 3, 2016 - 8:08pm | Updated: September 3, 2016 - 8:10pm
Michael Dean Hancock is led out of the courtroom Friday, Sept. 2, 2016 after his change of plea hearing at the Kenai Courthouse. The former Soldotna area karate teacher pleaded guilty to second degree sexual abuse of a minor and unlawful exploitation of a minor in a plea agreement tied to his case in Anchorage, where he faces charges of child pornography.
Photo by Megan Pacer/Peninsula Clarion Photo by Megan Pacer/Peninsula Clarion
Michael Dean Hancock is led out of the courtroom Friday, Sept. 2, 2016 after his change of plea hearing at the Kenai Courthouse.
The former Soldotna area karate teacher pleaded guilty to second degree sexual abuse of a minor and unlawful exploitation of a minor in a plea agreement tied to his case in Anchorage, where he faces charges of child pornography.
By MEGAN PACER
Peninsula Clarion
A Soldotna man has changed his plea in a sexual abuse of a minor case and accepted an agreement that is also tied to his criminal case in Anchorage.
Michael Dean Hancock, 58, pleaded guilty to one count of sexual abuse of a minor in the second degree and one count of unlawful exploitation of a minor during a Friday hearing at the Kenai Courthouse. Kenai Superior Court Judge Anna Moran accepted his plea, and Hancock was jailed with the understanding that he will most likely need to be transported to Anchorage next week for a change of plea hearing he has scheduled in his other case.
Hancock was indicted on Feb. 3 this year on a count of first-degree sexual abuse of a minor, an unclassified felony, and a count of second-degree sexual abuse of a minor, a class B felony, for events that took place in 2006 with a girl who was under 16 at the time, according to the indictment. He was also indicted in February on three counts of unlawful exploitation of a minor, class B felonies, in relation to more than 80 files labeled with his victim’s name found on his computer, according to the indictment. These charges came down after he had already been indicted in January in Anchorage on 13 counts relating to child pornography.
Peninsula Martial Arts on Kalifornsky Beach Road in Soldotna, where Hancock taught, has been closed since late December.
Hancock entered guilty pleas Friday for the count of second-degree sexual abuse of a minor and the single count of unlawful exploitation. The other charges listed in the indictment will be dismissed, according to the agreement reached by Adam Alexander, the prosecutor for both cases from the Office of Special Prosecutions in Anchorage, and Hancock’s defense attorney for the Kenai case, Bill Taylor.
Moran emphasized that, if for some reason the judge in Hancock’s Anchorage case rejects the plea agreement, Hancock can revert his plea in the Kenai case to not guilty because the pleas for both cases are a package deal.
“I don’t anticipate the Anchorage court rejecting the plea agreement between the parties,” Alexander said. “... The parties would be back at square one.”
Because the events that led to the charges happened in 2006, Hancock’s sentence is subject to what the presumptive sentencing ranges were for those crimes at that time, Taylor said. The presumptive range Hancock will face for each charge is two to four years imprisonment. According to the plea agreement, both the state and defense are waiving their right to argue aggravators or mitigators when it comes to Hancock’s later sentencing, which was scheduled in the Kenai case for November.
Though the other charges made against Hancock are being dismissed, Moran will still be able to consider his other conduct when deciding sentencing, she said.
Before entering his pleas, an emotional Hancock said he was hesitant about what “looms in the future,” but that he wants to face it and move on with his life.
Reach Megan Pacer at [email protected].
Former karate teacher pleads guilty to sex abuse
Posted: September 3, 2016 - 8:08pm | Updated: September 3, 2016 - 8:10pm
Michael Dean Hancock is led out of the courtroom Friday, Sept. 2, 2016 after his change of plea hearing at the Kenai Courthouse. The former Soldotna area karate teacher pleaded guilty to second degree sexual abuse of a minor and unlawful exploitation of a minor in a plea agreement tied to his case in Anchorage, where he faces charges of child pornography.
Photo by Megan Pacer/Peninsula Clarion Photo by Megan Pacer/Peninsula Clarion
Michael Dean Hancock is led out of the courtroom Friday, Sept. 2, 2016 after his change of plea hearing at the Kenai Courthouse.
The former Soldotna area karate teacher pleaded guilty to second degree sexual abuse of a minor and unlawful exploitation of a minor in a plea agreement tied to his case in Anchorage, where he faces charges of child pornography.
By MEGAN PACER
Peninsula Clarion
A Soldotna man has changed his plea in a sexual abuse of a minor case and accepted an agreement that is also tied to his criminal case in Anchorage.
Michael Dean Hancock, 58, pleaded guilty to one count of sexual abuse of a minor in the second degree and one count of unlawful exploitation of a minor during a Friday hearing at the Kenai Courthouse. Kenai Superior Court Judge Anna Moran accepted his plea, and Hancock was jailed with the understanding that he will most likely need to be transported to Anchorage next week for a change of plea hearing he has scheduled in his other case.
Hancock was indicted on Feb. 3 this year on a count of first-degree sexual abuse of a minor, an unclassified felony, and a count of second-degree sexual abuse of a minor, a class B felony, for events that took place in 2006 with a girl who was under 16 at the time, according to the indictment. He was also indicted in February on three counts of unlawful exploitation of a minor, class B felonies, in relation to more than 80 files labeled with his victim’s name found on his computer, according to the indictment. These charges came down after he had already been indicted in January in Anchorage on 13 counts relating to child pornography.
Peninsula Martial Arts on Kalifornsky Beach Road in Soldotna, where Hancock taught, has been closed since late December.
Hancock entered guilty pleas Friday for the count of second-degree sexual abuse of a minor and the single count of unlawful exploitation. The other charges listed in the indictment will be dismissed, according to the agreement reached by Adam Alexander, the prosecutor for both cases from the Office of Special Prosecutions in Anchorage, and Hancock’s defense attorney for the Kenai case, Bill Taylor.
Moran emphasized that, if for some reason the judge in Hancock’s Anchorage case rejects the plea agreement, Hancock can revert his plea in the Kenai case to not guilty because the pleas for both cases are a package deal.
“I don’t anticipate the Anchorage court rejecting the plea agreement between the parties,” Alexander said. “... The parties would be back at square one.”
Because the events that led to the charges happened in 2006, Hancock’s sentence is subject to what the presumptive sentencing ranges were for those crimes at that time, Taylor said. The presumptive range Hancock will face for each charge is two to four years imprisonment. According to the plea agreement, both the state and defense are waiving their right to argue aggravators or mitigators when it comes to Hancock’s later sentencing, which was scheduled in the Kenai case for November.
Though the other charges made against Hancock are being dismissed, Moran will still be able to consider his other conduct when deciding sentencing, she said.
Before entering his pleas, an emotional Hancock said he was hesitant about what “looms in the future,” but that he wants to face it and move on with his life.
Reach Megan Pacer at [email protected].
http://peninsulaclarion.com/news/local/2017-02-01/sentencing-soldotna-man-s-sex-abuse-case-postponed
Posted February 1, 2017 08:35 pm
By MEGAN PACER
Peninsula Clarion
Sentencing for Soldotna man’s sex abuse case postponed
The sentencing for a Soldotna man who pleaded to guilty to sexual abuse of a minor has been pushed back due to a discrepancy over the sentencing ranges he could face.
Michael Dean Hancock, 58, was indicted on Feb. 3, 2016 on a count of first-degree sexual abuse of a minor, an unclassified felony, and a count of second-degree sexual abuse of a minor, a class B felony, for incidents in 2006 that took place with a girl who was under 16 at the time, according to the indictment. He was also indicted at that time on three counts of unlawful exploitation of a minor, class B felonies, in relation to more than 80 files labeled with his victim’s name found on his computer, according to the indictment.
These charges were filed after Hancock had already been indicted in January 2016 in Anchorage on 13 counts relating to child pornography.
Hancock, a former karate teacher in the Soldotna area, pleaded guilty in September 2016 to one count of sexual abuse of a minor in the second degree and one count of unlawful exploitation of a minor. The other charges from the indictment were to be dismissed, according to a plea agreement reached by Adam Alexander, the prosecutor for both cases from the Office of Special Prosecutions in Anchorage, and Hancock’s defense attorney for the Kenai case, Bill Taylor.
Hancock was scheduled to be sentenced in Kenai Superior Court last Thursday, but the hearing was continued to Monday. At the Monday hearing, Superior Court Judge Anna Moran said she had found inconsistencies after reviewing case law on sentencing, according to log notes from the hearing.
Originally, the agreement reached by Taylor and Alexander called for a presumptive sentencing range of two to four years in jail for each of the two counts Hancock pleaded guilty to. Taylor said at the time that this was because the abuse took place in 2006, and was therefore subject to the sentencing ranges that existed for those crimes at the time.
Moran presented at the Monday hearing that state statute was changed in regard to presumptive sentencing ranges in April 2006. The sex abuse crimes Hancock for which was indicted happened in August and September 2006, according to the indictment. The three charges of unlawful exploitation originally included in the indictment reference incidents in 2007, according to the indictment.
According to the amended state statute, Hancock would face a presumptive range of five to 15 years in jail for the crimes he pleaded guilty to, according to the log notes.
His sentencing has been continued and a status hearing has been scheduled for his case later this month, according to online court records. Hancock is scheduled to be sentenced in his Anchorage case in April, according to online records for that case.
Reach Megan Pacer at [email protected].
Posted February 1, 2017 08:35 pm
By MEGAN PACER
Peninsula Clarion
Sentencing for Soldotna man’s sex abuse case postponed
The sentencing for a Soldotna man who pleaded to guilty to sexual abuse of a minor has been pushed back due to a discrepancy over the sentencing ranges he could face.
Michael Dean Hancock, 58, was indicted on Feb. 3, 2016 on a count of first-degree sexual abuse of a minor, an unclassified felony, and a count of second-degree sexual abuse of a minor, a class B felony, for incidents in 2006 that took place with a girl who was under 16 at the time, according to the indictment. He was also indicted at that time on three counts of unlawful exploitation of a minor, class B felonies, in relation to more than 80 files labeled with his victim’s name found on his computer, according to the indictment.
These charges were filed after Hancock had already been indicted in January 2016 in Anchorage on 13 counts relating to child pornography.
Hancock, a former karate teacher in the Soldotna area, pleaded guilty in September 2016 to one count of sexual abuse of a minor in the second degree and one count of unlawful exploitation of a minor. The other charges from the indictment were to be dismissed, according to a plea agreement reached by Adam Alexander, the prosecutor for both cases from the Office of Special Prosecutions in Anchorage, and Hancock’s defense attorney for the Kenai case, Bill Taylor.
Hancock was scheduled to be sentenced in Kenai Superior Court last Thursday, but the hearing was continued to Monday. At the Monday hearing, Superior Court Judge Anna Moran said she had found inconsistencies after reviewing case law on sentencing, according to log notes from the hearing.
Originally, the agreement reached by Taylor and Alexander called for a presumptive sentencing range of two to four years in jail for each of the two counts Hancock pleaded guilty to. Taylor said at the time that this was because the abuse took place in 2006, and was therefore subject to the sentencing ranges that existed for those crimes at the time.
Moran presented at the Monday hearing that state statute was changed in regard to presumptive sentencing ranges in April 2006. The sex abuse crimes Hancock for which was indicted happened in August and September 2006, according to the indictment. The three charges of unlawful exploitation originally included in the indictment reference incidents in 2007, according to the indictment.
According to the amended state statute, Hancock would face a presumptive range of five to 15 years in jail for the crimes he pleaded guilty to, according to the log notes.
His sentencing has been continued and a status hearing has been scheduled for his case later this month, according to online court records. Hancock is scheduled to be sentenced in his Anchorage case in April, according to online records for that case.
Reach Megan Pacer at [email protected].
http://peninsulaclarion.com/crime-and-courts/2016-02-03/soldotna-karate-teacher-indicted-on-sex-abuse-charges
peninsulaclarion.com
Soldotna karate teacher indicted on sex abuse charges
By Staff Report
A Soldotna man already in custody on charges of possessing and distributing child pornography has been indicted by a grand jury on additional charges.
Michael Dean Hancock, 57, was indicted Wednesday on one charge of first-degree sexual abuse of a minor, one charge of second-degree sexual abuse of a minor and three charges of unlawful exploitation of a minor, according to an Alaska State Trooper online dispatch. He remains in custody following an Anchorage Grand Jury indictment of 13 charges relating to the possession and distribution of child pornography in January, according to the dispatch.
Hancock, who was a karate instructor with Peninsula Martial Arts on Kalifornsky Beach Road in Soldotna, was indicted on the original charges on Jan. 14 and subsequently arrested. The business has since been shut down.
The Soldotna unit of the Alaska Bureau of Investigation is asking anyone who has information regarding additional potential victims to contact Investigator Peronto at 907-260-2709, troopers wrote in the dispatch.
First-degree sexual abuse of a minor is an unclassified felony, for which Hancock could serve 20–99 years in prison and pay a fine of up to $500,000 if convicted.
Second-degree sexual abuse of a minor and unlawful exploitation of a minor are both class B felonies, which carry a punishment of up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $100,000.
The child pornography charges Hancock already faces are a mix of class B and C felonies. Class C felonies carry a punishment of up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $50,000.
-Staff Report
peninsulaclarion.com
Soldotna karate teacher indicted on sex abuse charges
By Staff Report
A Soldotna man already in custody on charges of possessing and distributing child pornography has been indicted by a grand jury on additional charges.
Michael Dean Hancock, 57, was indicted Wednesday on one charge of first-degree sexual abuse of a minor, one charge of second-degree sexual abuse of a minor and three charges of unlawful exploitation of a minor, according to an Alaska State Trooper online dispatch. He remains in custody following an Anchorage Grand Jury indictment of 13 charges relating to the possession and distribution of child pornography in January, according to the dispatch.
Hancock, who was a karate instructor with Peninsula Martial Arts on Kalifornsky Beach Road in Soldotna, was indicted on the original charges on Jan. 14 and subsequently arrested. The business has since been shut down.
The Soldotna unit of the Alaska Bureau of Investigation is asking anyone who has information regarding additional potential victims to contact Investigator Peronto at 907-260-2709, troopers wrote in the dispatch.
First-degree sexual abuse of a minor is an unclassified felony, for which Hancock could serve 20–99 years in prison and pay a fine of up to $500,000 if convicted.
Second-degree sexual abuse of a minor and unlawful exploitation of a minor are both class B felonies, which carry a punishment of up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $100,000.
The child pornography charges Hancock already faces are a mix of class B and C felonies. Class C felonies carry a punishment of up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $50,000.
-Staff Report