GOP lawmaker's top aide jailed on sex-trafficking charges after getting punched by mother

The top aide to a Republican state senator from Alaska was jailed Friday on child sex-trafficking charges, and after getting punched in the face by the mother of the alleged victim, Alaska’s News Source reported Friday.

Craig Scott Valdez, the chief of staff for Alaska Sen. George Rauscher, was arrested Friday after being accused of arranging to pick up a minor from their family’s home via social media, and later taking them to his home, the outlet reported. The minor’s location was determined by their mother using their phone’s GPS tracking feature.

“When [the mother] arrived [at Valdez’s home], she heard the minor inside say they wanted to go home,” Alaska’s New Source reported.

“The mother entered the residence, struck Valdez once in the face and recovered the minor, who exhibited signs of extreme drug or alcohol intoxication and had difficulty walking and maintaining consciousness, court documents say.”

The mother then notified the Anchorage Police Department according to the report, which soon descended on the property, after which Valdez "puzzlingly" fled his home, police said.

Valdez was ultimately arrested, and later discovered to have targeted at least 11 other suspected minor victims using social media.

In a press release sent Friday evening, Rauscher said that the news was a “shock” to his office, and that Valdez was terminated immediately.

“I was informed today of the arrest of a member of my staff in a federal investigation involving extremely serious charges. I learned of this matter after law enforcement action was taken and then from the press. I trust the Department of Justice to handle this appropriately,” Rauscher said in the press release.

“This is a shock to my office. The employee was terminated. I do not have anything more to say, other than we need the justice system to take its course as the process continues.”