FAIRBANKS — A former Fairbanks public school tutor maintained his innocence Thursday as he was sentenced to 35 years in prison for sexually abusing a student.
The Fairbanks Daily News-Miner reported 36-six-year-old Claude Fowlkes III was convicted in October of three counts of sexual abuse of a minor.
He told Superior Court Judge Michael MacDonald that his conviction was a miscarriage of justice. He said his appointed attorney failed to present evidence that would have acquitted him.
Fowlkes was convicted of forcing a boy to have sex in 2010 after he had persuaded the youth to help him move.
Judge MacDonald said Fowlkes poses a significant danger to children of the community. MacDonald said he did not have much hope for Fowlkes’ rehabilitation because he did not accept responsibility.
Fowlkes last worked at Hutchison High School.
