Investigation of former Sumner High coach accused of abuse was inadequate, suit alleges
The latest lawsuit involving a former Sumner High School basketball coach accused of sexually abusing players alleges the school district failed to properly investigate his behavior.
The lawsuit against the Sumner-Bonney Lake School District was filed Aug. 15 in Pierce County Superior Court on behalf of four boys and their parents, all listed in court records as John and Jane Does.
The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages. Tort claims filed as a precursor to a lawsuit earlier this year said “similar cases in Washington courts have resulted in jury verdicts between $4-10 million.”
Jacob “Jake” Jackson is accused of sexually abusing players and of seeking and sending sexually explicit photos to them.
A spokesperson said Thursday that the district won’t comment on pending litigation.
Pierce County prosecutors charged Jackson in April with third-degree child rape, indecent exposure, first-degree sexual misconduct with a minor, two counts of third-degree child molestation and five counts of communication with a minor for immoral purposes.
He pleaded not guilty at arraignment and awaits trial. He was released to electronic home monitoring after posting $25,000 bail, according to court records.
An attorney representing Jackson said he didn’t have any comment Thursday.
A statement the district posted on its website in May said in part that the district was “saddened by the recent criminal allegations involving Jacob Jackson and any related impacts on students, their families, employees, and the community. Out of respect for the privacy of those involved in the criminal process, the District is not commenting on the criminal allegations.”
The statement went on to say that the district “did not receive any report involving allegations of inappropriate sexual behavior by Jacob Jackson in any fashion until the District was notified by the Sumner Police Department at the end of August 2022. The District then immediately placed Jacob Jackson on administrative leave and cooperated with law enforcement’s investigation of the alleged conduct to the extent it involved the District.”
Jackson resigned.
Allegations about the district’s investigation
The lawsuit filed Aug. 15 gives this account of the district’s investigation in the years prior:
The district hired Jackson as the Sumner High School head boys basketball coach in 2016.
“Jackson also had a business relationship with the District worth thousands and thousands of dollars through Jackson’s sporting goods corporation, Sterling Athletics,” the lawsuit said. “Although lauded by some District administrators, Jackson’s actions as Sumner’s varsity coach drew concerns as controlling and manipulative.”
Notes from a 2018 meeting between Jackson and a district employee allege there were concerns about “mind games,” “ego,” “manipulation,” “individual negative text messages,” and that Jackson treated players inconsistently, according to the lawsuit.
The lawsuit alleges the district didn’t follow up on those concerns.
The district and the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association got an unsigned letter in February 2020 about concerns that Jackson was unethically “giving athletes and their families access to the Nike Corporation’s employee store, access to the Nike’s exclusive boys’ summer basketball program, and recruiting connections all made available through Jackson’s personal connection to Nike,” the lawsuit said.
The letter also said that coaches and teachers had been fired for sending one or two personal text messages, in violation of policies, but that Jackson allegedly texted, called, sent direct messages, and SnapChatted constantly with his players and with children as young as sixth graders.
The lawsuit said the district told the WIAA it would investigate.
Tim Thomsen, the director of Athletics, Activities and Facility Scheduling, sent an email to district superintendent Laurie Dent, assistant superintendent Bill Gaines, and Sumner High School principal Kassie Meath with an update April 13, 2020, the lawsuit said.
The email allegedly said: “I could find no evidence of any inappropriate personal contact. Jake was able to quote our athletic dept. expectations for boundaries in coach/athlete communication, and I subscribe to his weekly email communication. He assures me he does not violate the expectations, and always uses group communication for logistics, and copies parents for individual communication (when needed). He reports he has reached out in the past, when requested by an SBA coach, to an SBA student and family on a birthday celebration, etc. I also follow both his personal and team twitter accounts.”
The lawsuit alleges the district didn’t investigate further.
The News Tribune has previously reported about other lawsuits filed involving the allegations against Jackson. Families sued Jackson in February 2023 and in October 2022, then in April 2023 those two families and two others filed a claim against the school district as a precursor to a lawsuit, alleging that the district failed to protect the student athletes. Another family also sued Jackson and the school district earlier this month, according to court records.
The school district’s statement in May said anyone who has been sexually assaulted can call a 24-hour crisis line at (253) 474-7273 to get support from the Rebuilding Hope! Sexual Assault Resource Center for Pierce County. More information is available at sexualassaultcenter.com.
News Tribune archives contributed to this report.
