A former Sumner High School head basketball coach was found guilty in a sex abuse trial involving his former players.
Jacob Jackson, the former head basketball coach for Sumner High School, was found guilty on 19 of his 20 original charges, including rape, molestation, communication with a minor for immoral purposes, indecent exposure, kidnapping, and sexual exploitation.
The Pierce County Prosecutor’s Office said his seventh count regarding indecent exposure was dismissed during the trial.
According to court documents that KIRO 7 News had received, the incidents go as far back as 2018, involving eight boys as young as 14 years old.
The records said Jackson used his role as a head coach to perform sexual activities with players and lure players into sending him inappropriate photos and messages.
On Thursday, dozens of people sitting inside the courtroom were filled with emotions as the judge read each guilty verdict.
“It’s been a long time. It’s been two and a half years waiting for today. I’m just so thankful the judicial system got it correct,” said Brett McDaniel, a family member of one of the survivors. “I’m most proud of the boys, especially these eight that came forward because we know that countless others would have been victimized had they not come forward, including my son who is a member of the basketball team.”
KIRO 7 News spoke with one of the survivors, Jaxon Cummings, who was emotional following the jury’s verdict.
“It just feels like weight lifted off my shoulders. Feels like I can start taking one step at a time forward and moving on with my life,” he said. “Justice will always be served and that doing this to kids and doing this to vulnerable people is just wrong, and I don’t want it to ever happen again.”
Cummings told KIRO 7 News that he decided to move forward with the trial after speaking with his friends, who are also survivors in the case.
“I was inspired by all the other guys who did it. I mean, I think we all inspired each other. I think we all made sure we had each other and had support. And that’s what the community of Sumner also did,” he said. “It just felt good like the weight was lifted off my shoulders. It made me have faith in the country and the government system, to know that if people do something wrong, if people are evil, they’re going to get what they deserve. Justice was served.”
A sentencing hearing has been scheduled for March 20 at 9 a.m.
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