‘Absolutely not.’ Ex-Sumner coach testifies he was not interested in sex with player
A former Sumner High School boys basketball coach accused of sexually abusing eight of his players took the witness stand in his criminal trial Tuesday.
Jacob “Jake” Jackson, 37, has pleaded not guilty to four counts of third-degree rape of a child, two counts of third-degree child molestation, six counts of communication with a minor for immoral purposes, five counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, second-degree kidnapping with sexual motivation, indecent exposure and first-degree sexual misconduct with a minor.
He has been out of custody on $25,000 bail, court records show.
Jackson, who was the head coach from 2016 until August 2022, was placed on administrative leave following allegations that he had been asking players about the size of their genitals and requesting pictures. He later resigned.
Eight boys reported that Jackson sent them or requested inappropriate or sexually explicit messages through text, Instagram and Snapchat. The boys were between the ages of 13 and 16 when the alleged messages began. Some players also alleged that Jackson raped or molested them.
Several rows of seats were filled mostly with the mothers of former and current players on the Sumner High School boys basketball team Tuesday in Superior Court Judge Philip Sorensen’s courtroom.
Jacob Jackson’s testimony
During the defense’s case, Brett Purtzer, Jackson’s attorney, asked the coach about his background, coaching style and communicating with his players over social media.
Jackson emphasized that his overall style when off the court was to be more “relatable” and fit in with his players. Jackson described himself as “the ultimate player’s coach,” and said he learned his philosophy of coaching when he attended the University of Arizona.
When asked how Jackson got the social media and contact information of his players, he said that they provided that along with their parents. He said the students and parents filled in that information in an acknowledgment form, and it was policy for coaches to follow student athletes on social media.
Jackson said while he communicated with his players through text messaging, if he wanted an immediate reply, it would be through Snapchat.
While Jackson denied sending inappropriate photos to one student, he said that he did exchange abdominal photos with another player. When Purtzer asked why, Jackson said it was to help the teen have more self-confidence.
“When you look in the mirror as a high school student and you’re still growing and getting bigger and taller and better, they lack confidence. So with me saying, ‘Hey, do this, do these push ups, come do these workouts,’ and they have photos that look in the mirror and you see that line, it’s just trying to instill that self belief in his brain,” he said.
During the trial’s opening statements last month, prosecutors alleged that Jackson would send inappropriate messages disguised as attempts to develop relationships with boys whom he wanted to become better players.
Jackson said he did talk to a player about genital size, but his “intent is to be funny and to fit in and joke.”
When Purtzer asked if he had any sexual interest in the player, Jackson said “absolutely not.”
Ex-wife, former father-in-law testify on Jackson’s behalf
Before Jackson took the stand, the jury heard from his ex-wife, Stacy Jackson, and former father-in-law, Terry Robinson. Stacy Jackson, who still lives with her ex-husband, testified that he is an “invested person” who cared a lot about his players.
According to prosecutors, four or five of the teens reported sexual interactions at the Jackson family’s Lake Tapps home. They alleged that they would go to the house for yard work, use the home’s putting green or for other reasons. Jacob Jackson allegedly lured them to an upstairs master bedroom where prosecutors say he would masturbate in front of them, tried to get them to masturbate with him or orally rape them.
Stacy Jackson testified that she did not see the players at their home with Jackson alone. She said one of the players did yard work once or twice following his high school graduation. Another player, whose family was close friends with hers, would be at the home during gatherings.
She also acknowledged one time when she was in Arizona where the players were at her home. When prosecuting attorney Megan Winder asked if Stacy Jackson was upset about that, she said she was not.
Stacy Jackson said she was not aware that Jacob Jackson had Snapchat or took shirtless photos that he sent to other people. She also said she did not see him texting with his players.
The trial will resume Wednesday morning when the prosecution is expected to cross-examine Jackson.
