Sex offender wins raffle for abuse victim charity AK.
Sex offender wins raffle for abuse victim charity Associated Press Updated: 01/10/2009 10:36:36 PM AKST ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) - A convicted sex offender won a $500,000 Alaska raffle that was a fundraiser for a nonprofit organization that helps victims of sexual abuse. Alec Ahsoak of Anchorage, 53, came forward Saturday to collect his prize. The state sex offender registry lists Ahsoak as convicted of two counts of sexual abuse of a minor in 1993 and one count in 2000. The raffle drawing was Friday night. State law says all games of chance must benefit a charity. The designated beneficiary for the half-million dollar raffle was Standing Together Against Rape, or STAR. Ahsoak says he plans to use the money to buy a home and to improve his life. He tells KTUU-TV he will donate $100,000 to STAR. http://www.ktva.com/ci_11427180?source=most_viewed

Convicted sex offender wins Alaska lottery Published: Jan. 11, 2009 at 12:11 PM ANCHORAGE, Alaska, Jan. 11 (UPI) -- An Alaskan lottery organizer says a convicted sex offender has won a $500,000 statewide jackpot aimed at helping sexual abuse victims. Lucky Times Pull Tabs owner Abe Spicola said the drawing won by convicted sex offender Alec Ahsoak was organized to help a non-profit group that aids sexual abuse victims, the Anchorage Daily News reported Sunday. Spicola said Ahsoak, 53, picked up his winnings Saturday and offered brief details on what he plans to do with his new-found wealth. "He said he was going to buy a house and said he was going to donate part of it to God, and you know, charity," the lottery organizer said. The Alaskan sex offender registry shows Ahsoak was convicted in 1993 and in 2000 on counts of sexual abuse of a minor. Becky Beck, a board member for the Standing Together Against Rape group that took part in the lottery, told the Daily News she was hopeful Ahsoak's past would not compromise the lottery's good intentions. http://www.upi.com/Top_News/2009/01/11/Convicted_sex_offender_wins_Alaska_lottery/UPI-13791231693871/

Respondents believe convictions should disqualify lottery winner by Channel 2 News staff Monday, January 12, 2009 ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- In a poll conducted by Channel 2 News, respondents were asked a convicted sex offender should be allowed to accept winnings from a lottery designed to benefit victims of sexual abuse. Here is the official question and results. Should a convicted sex offender be allowed to accept winnings from a lottery to benefit victims of sexual abuse? Yes 58 % No 42 % All polls conducted by Channel 2 News and KTUU.com are unscientific. http://www.ktuu.com/global/story.asp?s=9662572

Man faces first-degree assault charge in lottery winner attack AFFADAVIT: Suspect called friend before beating. By JAMES HALPIN jhalpin@adn.com Published: January 14th, 2009 08:52 PM Last Modified: January 14th, 2009 06:56 AM The man accused of attacking the $500,000 lottery winner spotted his target downtown and called an acquaintance to announce his plans before taking a tire iron to the man's head, according to charges filed Wednesday. The charges bumped up a notch the original allegations against Brandon J. Hughes, 20, to assault in the first degree, the most severe under state statutes. Hughes, who is from Los Angeles and had been in Anchorage only a short time, is also charged with tampering with evidence, and at a hearing Wednesday afternoon Judge Alex Swiderski upped his bail to $150,000 cash. Hughes is accused of attacking Alec Ahsoak, 53, near the 5th Avenue Mall on Tuesday afternoon after first asking him if he was the winner of the half-million-dollar lottery, conducted by Lucky Times Pull Tabs to benefit the nonprofit Standing Together Against Rape. "I don't know exactly what the motive is," police Lt. Dave Parker said. "He did not explain his motive." According to an affidavit filed in court, Hughes called an acquaintance shortly before the attack to say he had seen Ahsoak, a repeat sex offender, and was going to "beat his (expletive)." The acquaintance told Hughes not to do anything stupid, charges say, but Hughes shortly called the man back to report that he "beat the (expletive) out of him and he didn't know how badly he was beaten," according to the affidavit. Ahsoak told police he was leaving a bank on 5th Avenue on Tuesday afternoon when a man asked if he "was the winner of the half-million lottery?" Ahsoak said he was, and the assailant began attacking him, charges say. Ahsoak ran across D Street but his attacker followed him, catching him near the entrance of Phyllis' Cafe, holding him against the wall with one hand and hitting Ahsoak in the head repeatedly with the tire iron, according to the affidavit. The suspect ran off with the tire iron in hand when a witness showed to break up the attack, charges say. Ahsoak was treated at a hospital and released Tuesday night, police said. Police arrested Hughes at a Tesoro gas station at Arctic Boulevard and International Airport Road on Tuesday evening after the man he called about the beating reported him and his location. Though he didn't have the tire iron, Hughes matched the description given by witnesses and Ahsoak identified him, charges say. In addition to the current case, Hughes is being held in lieu of $50,000 bail on California charges of violating felony probation and possessing a dangerous instrument. At the hearing Wednesday, Alaska State Troopers Sgt. Henry Kozloff told the judge California officials planned to extradite Hughes when the case against him here is finished. Find James Halpin online at adn.com/contact/jhalpin or call him at 257-4589. http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/crime/story/654547.html