Sex offender gets 18 months for failing to register

A Seattle man was sentenced Tuesday in federal court in Anchorage for failing to register as a sex offender on several occasions, including a period when he lived in Juneau.

Sterling Bolima, 43, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Timothy M. Burgess to 18 months in prison, to be followed by a five-year term of supervised release.

Bolima was convicted in 1998 for sexual abuse of a minor. According to a Juneau Empire article at the time, Bolima was 24 and was having sexual relations with a 15-year-old girl, who became pregnant.

ADVERTISEMENT
0 seconds of 0 secondsVolume 0%
Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts
00:00
00:00
00:00
 

Juneau Superior Court Judge Larry Weeks had sentenced Bolima to three years in prison and suspended all but nine months, with five years’ probation.

As a result of this conviction, the defendant was required to register as a sex offender in Alaska and any other location in which he lived, worked, or attended school. Between 1998 and 2011, while living in Juneau and Nome, the defendant failed to register on three separate occasions. In 2012, Bolima flew to Seattle and took up residence in Washington. The defendant failed to update Alaskan authorities with his new address, nor did he register with Washington officials upon his arrival. The defendant lived in an unregistered status until August 2016, when he was indicted by a federal grand jury and arrested by U.S. Marshals.

In pronouncing his sentence, Burgess sought to “make sure Mr. Bolima understands what he has to do as far as registration goes. And to understand that there are serious consequences if he doesn’t.” Burgess warned the defendant about the failure to register in the future, telling him, “If you don’t, you’re going to spend a lot more time in jail.”

More in News

(Juneau Empire file photo)
Aurora forecast through the week of March 16

These forecasts are courtesy of the University of Alaska Fairbanks’ Geophysical Institute… Continue reading

A plane flies over the town after taking off from the dirt runway on Sept. 14, 2019, in Kivalina. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
Possible Postal Service changes present challenge to Alaska Bypass Mail

Rural communities depend on service for food shipments.

The exterior of the Governor’s House on Wednesday, with Nov. 20, 2024, with decorations in place for the holiday season. (Laurie Craig / Juneau Empire file photo)
Turning Governor’s House into a short-term rental proposed by Alaska lawmaker

Republican House member says intent is fiscal responsibility, not a slight of often-absent GOP governor.

SouthEast Alaska Regional Health Consortium’s Vintage Park Campus on its opening day of Dec. 19, 2023. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
SEARHC starts up new online portal for patients

Starting later this month, SEARHC patients will be able to schedule appointments,… Continue reading

Lt. Gov. Nancy Dahlstrom (R-Alaska) chats with U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) before her annual address to the Alaska State Legislature on March 18, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
Murkowski embraces many of Trump’s goals, but questions his methods

Senator addresses flood concerns, federal firings, Medicaid worries in annual speech to Legislature.

This rendering depicts Huna Totem Corp.’s proposed new downtown development project. (City and Borough of Juneau)
Aak’w Landing private cruise ship dock advances to full Assembly for possible April vote

Modifications to proposed agreement include ship size limit, Coast Guard’s OK due to icebreaker.

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
Police calls for Sunday, March 16, 2025

This report contains public information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

A map of Alaska shows the three Social Security Administration field offices in Juneau, Anchorage and Fairbanks. (Google Maps)
Update: Social Security to cut phone support, forces Alaskans online or to Juneau, Anchorage or Fairbanks

New policy announced Tuesday takes effect March 31; 60,000 rural Alaskans lack broadband.

Rep. Jeremy Bynum, R-Ketchikan, speaks Feb. 21, 2025, on the floor of the Alaska House of Representatives. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)
Alaska legislators ask feds to reinstate program that sent money to rural schools

The Alaska House of Representatives is asking Congress to fix a problem… Continue reading

Most Read