Alaska Trooper Vance Peronto Pulled Over a 16-Year-Old Girl. Then He Found Her Online and Pursued Her Sexually.

 

Former Alaska State Trooper Vance Peronto Attempted to Sexually Abuse a Minor

Vance Peronto was an Alaska State Trooper.

In 2018, while stationed in Soldotna, Peronto pulled over a 16-year-old girl for driving without headlights. He later found her on social media and began sending her explicit sexual messages.

The girl's father discovered the messages and contacted authorities.

Investigators took over the communications, posing as the teenager. Peronto continued messaging and eventually arranged to meet the person he believed was the 16-year-old at an Anchorage hotel.

Instead, investigators were waiting for him.

In 2023, a jury convicted Peronto of attempted second-degree sexual abuse of a minor. He was also convicted of two counts involving possession of child sexual abuse material.

He was sentenced to eight years in prison with four years suspended, leaving four years to serve, followed by probation.

Peronto first encountered this girl because he pulled her over while wearing a badge.

Then he used that encounter to find her online and pursue her sexually.

The person behind that badge was supposed to protect children, not hunt for access to them.