Former Alaska State Trooper convicted of Attempted Abuse of a Minor

FAIRBANKS, Alaska (KTVF) - Vance Peronto, a former Alaska State Trooper (AST), was convicted on Friday, March 24, of one count of Attempted Abuse of a Minor in the Second Degree.

Investigators learned on April 26, 2018 that Peronto may have had inappropriate contact with a minor, according to a Department of Law press release.

The timeline of events conclude that on April 8, 2018, Peronto conducted a routine traffic stop of a 16-year-old female for driving without her headlights on. The girl was not issued a citation. Peronto later contacted the 16-year-old via social media and began establishing a social relationship.

AST investigators, working with the girl and her family, retrieved electronic evidence relevant to the case. On April 29, 2018, Peronto attempted to rendezvous with the 16-year-old girl at a hotel in Anchorage. Peronto instead was met by AST and the Anchorage Police Department.

The evidence presented at trial, as reported in the press release, “established that Peronto took a substantial step toward engaging in sexual penetration of a minor, while occupying a position of authority in relation to the minor.”

“The Alaska State Troopers cannot allow anyone, especially a law enforcement officer, to abuse their power and violate the trust of the community as Vance Peronto did. The prosecution of this former state trooper sends a clear message that no one is above the law, and we will not tolerate any criminal activity within our ranks,” stated Alaska Department of Public Safety Commissioner, James Cockrell.

The trial lasted a little over two weeks, and the jury deliberated for about two and a half days before returning a guilty verdict.

Peronto is facing between two to 12 years in jail. His mandatory minimum sentence is four years with two years suspended, followed by five years probation.

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