Fugitive Joshua Evans Sentenced for Child Pornography Possession

ANCHORAGE, ALASKA – A grim discovery in the digital age: Joshua Michael Evans, 45, a resident of Eagle River, Alaska, was sentenced yesterday to 14 years in federal prison for his despicable possession of child pornography. The sentence was handed down by U.S. District Judge Sharon L. Gleason.

Evans’ descent into darkness began in May 2016 when he was targeted by a federal investigation. It was uncovered that Evans had been using the internet to download videos and images depicting child sexual exploitation, marking his second brush with justice for such offenses. His previous conviction in 2001 involved sexual abuse of a minor.

However, the story takes a darker turn when Evans vanished in October 2017, days before his scheduled sentencing. This triggered a massive manhunt involving U.S. Probation, the FBI, and the Alaska State Troopers, all to no avail – Evans remains at large to this day.

“This case is a stark reminder of the dangers of online predators who target children,” said U.S. Attorney Bryan Schroder. “The efforts by U.S. Probation, the FBI, and the Alaska State Troopers in responding to Evans’ disappearance are commendable.” The investigation leading to this prosecution was conducted by the FBI and the Anchorage Police Department, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Alexander at the helm of the prosecution.

This sentencing is part of the Department of Justice’s ongoing Project Safe Childhood initiative, which aims to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. For anyone with information on Evans’ whereabouts, the FBI Anchorage Field Office can be contacted at 907-276-4441.

For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov or call the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Alaska.