Alaska Man Sentenced for Attempting to Solicit Sex from Minor

Anchorage, Alaska – U.S. Attorney Bryan Schroder announced today that an Alaska man was sentenced in federal court in Anchorage for using the internet to attempt to solicit sex from a minor. 

Herbert Barr, 51, who resided in a rural Alaska village, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Sharon L. Gleason, to serve 10 years in federal prison, followed by a 20-year term of supervised release.  Barr previously pleaded guilty on Oct. 25, 2017, to attempted sexual exploitation of a minor – coercion and enticement of a minor.

According to court documents, over the course of about one week in July 2017, Barr sent numerous text messages to a minor trying to persuade her to allow him to sexually abuse her.  After rejecting Barr’s offer, the minor promptly notified her parents, who then contacted the Alaska State Troopers at the Nome Post.  

The Alaska State Troopers began investigating Barr, who continued to send dozens of text messages trying to persuade the minor to allow him to perform illegal sexual acts.  Barr went so far as offering money and suggesting she meet him outside his home. Law enforcement officers swiftly prevented Barr from completing the sex abuse he tried to commit because of the minor’s prompt report to her parents.

At the sentencing hearing, the Court heard from the victim, her mother, and the Bering Straits Native Corporation, which spoke on behalf of the community. Judge Gleason found the offense to be particularly serious because Barr had offered the minor money in exchange for sex.

U.S. Attorney Schroder commends the Alaska State Troopers, in particular the Nome Post and the Technical Crimes Unit, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Nome District Attorney’s Office for the investigation and assistance leading to the successful prosecution of this case.