FAIRBANKS-A former student of the University of Alaska Fairbanks campus, Audie Artis Chikoyak, attended court by phone yesterday to plead guilty to one count of second degree harassment. He did so as part of a plea agreement with the state. By doing so, another eight misdemeanors charges were dropped.

The harassment charges stemmed from over 1,000 sexually explicit phone calls that Chikoyak, age 25 from Kipnuk, made to female students attending the University in Fairbanks. In September and October of 2010, females rooming at the Bartlett, Moore and Stevens halls received harassing calls as Chikoyak dialed his way through the campus student directory. Some of the students received up to 16 calls from the nocturnal dialer. One night in October 2010, at the peak of his phoning spree, he completed 473 calls.

It is reported, that when contacted by the Alaska State Troopers, Chikoyak told them that he “did not know that harassment was a serious matter,” and said he would stop. Nevertheless, eight recipients of his dialings agreed to be interviewed by the authorities and pressed charges.

Judge Raymond Funk told Chikoyak by phone, that under the plea deal he would be required to undergo an alcohol and mental health evaluation as well as perform 100 hours of community service. He is also required to write letters to the victims and the University Police department apologizing for his actions. Further, he is must not drink alcohol or commit any new crimes in the next year. In return for fulfilling these requirements, Judge Funk would issue him a suspended imposition of sentence.

Assistant District Attorney Bill Spiers said of the plea deal and sentencing requirements, “He really got a break. I hope he gets the counseling he needs,” and speaking of the community work service, he said, “There’s a lot of things he can do for the elders in Kipnuk.”