A Kenai jury found a former Soldotna High School teacher, 37-year-old Nathaniel E. Erfurth, guilty of 24 counts of Sexual Abuse of a Minor in the Second Degree and four counts of Unlawful Exploitation of a Minor in the First Degree.

Erfurth previously served as president of the Kenai Peninsula Education Association, the local teachers’ union. He now faces a sentencing range of 5 to 15 years for each conviction. The jury also found that the conduct constituting sexual abuse of a minor in the second degree was the “most serious” within the range for that offense.  As a result, Erfurth may face enhanced sentencing.

According to the Alaska Dept. of Law, Erfurth was a teacher at Soldotna High School. The victim is a former student with whom Erfurth developed a parental relationship while she was a student. Erfurth exploited this position of authority and trust to induce the victim to engage in several acts of sexual penetration. The victim and Erfurth would communicate privately over an end-to-end encrypted messaging application called Signal. Erfurth would solicit lewd photographs and videos of the victim through this messaging application.

“The State thanks the former student for her fortitude on the witness stand and willingness to hold Mr. Erfurth accountable for his extensive abuse,” the Dept. of Law stated. “The State also thanks the jury for their considerable time and attention for a trial that lasted nearly a month.”

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