Former ‘Parent of the Year’ facing over 45 charges for sexually assaulting teen girls, authorities say

NOME, Alaska (KTUU/Gray News) - An Alaska man is facing dozens of charges in the abuse and sexual assault of teenage girls dating back to 2009, state troopers said.

A Bethel Grand Jury returned an indictment on Tuesday, charging 48-year-old Ulric Jeffery Ulroan with 47 counts of sexual abuse, sexual assault, indecent exposure and giving alcohol to a minor.

Some of the charges state that Ulroan was in a position of authority over the victims while committing the alleged crimes, with Alsaka State troopers stating that there could be victims in the case.

According to the Alaska Bureau of Investigation, a tip was received in January that a Chevak girl was allegedly being abused by Ulroan between 2009 and 2010.

A press release from Alaska authorities stated that during the course of the investigation, additional women came forward and reported that Ulroan sexually assaulted or abused them.

There were at least six victims in the indictment, according to lead investigator Brian Wassmann.

“The investigation has shown thus far, that the abuse, at least in the cases that we investigated that led to the Grand Jury charges, or the indictment, occurred between 2009 and 2010 and other crimes occurred from 2015 to 2017 in various communities,” Wassmann said.

The release also stated that Ulroan was a certified foster parent from 2005 to 2023.

In 2019, he and his wife were named “Parents of the Year” by the Alaska Federation of Natives.

Ulroan served as Chevak’s mayor around 2007 and served on the city council.

In 2021, he worked as the vice mayor. He also worked at Chevak School as a girls’ basketball coach, according to state troopers.

Ulroan moved out of state for training in 2023 and then moved to Nome in the fall of 2024.

Authorities said the majority of the charged crimes occurred in Chevak, with others in Mountain Village and one in Anchorage.

Wassmann noted that the case remains an open investigation, with victims possibly being in the Nome area as well.

Ulroan’s bail was set at $250,000 as he was booked into the Anvil Mountain Correctional Center. If he does post bail, he is not to have any contact with the victims or any minor under the age of 18.

Alaska State Troopers urged anyone with further information to contact them at 907-451-5100.

If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual assault, resources are available on the Standing Together Against Rape (STAR) website or by calling the statewide crisis hotline at 1-800-478-8999.

If you suspect a child is being abused or neglected, resources are available on the Alaska Children’s Alliance and Alaska Children’s Trust websites. To report abuse or neglect, call the state’s hotline at 1-800-478-4444 or the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-422-4453.