Man sentenced for sexually abusing foster daughter in Chevak

A man originally from New Stuyahok was sentenced this week to 25 years in prison for sexually abusing his 7-year-old foster daughter, state prosecutors say. He had pleaded guilty to one aggravated charge of second-degree sex abuse of a minor.

The Department of Law says that in Chevak in 2017, Peter Gumlickpuk’s wife walked in on him fondling their foster daughter while he read to the child from the Bible. She confronted him and he confessed to the abuse, the department said.

When Troopers investigated, multiple incidents of sexual abuse were revealed, the Dept. of Law wrote. Online court records show Gumlickpuk was initially charged with 18 total counts -- two charges of first-degree sex abuse of a minor, and eight each of second-degree sex abuse of a minor and second-degree sex assault. He pleaded guilty to the single second-degree sex abuse charge.

At the sentencing hearing, the prosecutor talked about the irreparable emotional harm Gumlickpuk had inflicted on the girl. The girl, Gumlickpuk’s wife, and another witness spoke about the significant damage to their lives from the crime.

Prosecutors say Gumlickpuk is not originally from Chevak, but from New Stuyahok.

At the sentencing, Gumlickpuk’s attorney said the 60-year-old defendant had already begun taking steps to reform his behavior.

Gumlickpuk is ordered to serve 25 years for the one count of Sex Abuse of a Minor, and will also serve 15 years of probation and be required to register as a sex offender.

Online court records show a different spelling of Gumlickpuk's last name. Prosecutors say the spelling reflected in this story is correct.