Barrow man charged with sexually assaulting Fairbanks woman

FAIRBANKS (AP) -- A Barrow man was arrested after he allegedly sexually assaulted a Fairbanks woman, police said.

Leslie Aveoganna, 39, was arraigned Monday on charges of kidnapping, first-degree sexual assault and drug charges.

Fairbanks Police Detective Tara Tippett said Aveoganna had been visiting the woman when he allegedly pushed a couch in front of the door sometime Sunday morning.

''She told him she was not interested in having sex with him,'' Tippett said. Aveoganna then allegedly forced the woman to engage in a sexual act.

The woman told police she escaped a few hours later when she distracted Aveoganna by spilling her drink. She ran to a neighbor's house for help. A man visiting the neighbor detained Aveoganna until police arrived, Tippett said. The victim was treated at Fairbanks Memorial Hospital.

Aveoganna, who previously was convicted of sexual assault in 1987, was being held on $105,000 bail.