Man gets 20 years for sex abuse of 12-year-old

By Greg Skinner | JUNEAU EMPIRE

A retired Coast Guard veteran was sentenced to 20 years in prison Tuesday after pleading guilty to sexually assaulting a 12-year-old boy at a Juneau church camp last spring and then paying $300 to keep the child from reporting the crime.

Ketchikan resident Darren Jacksch, 42, also was convicted for sexually abusing a 10-year-old child in his home in 2004, while still in the Coast Guard.

Court records show Jacksch was employed at the Ketchikan Charter School at the time of his December 2007 arrest.

Juneau Superior Court Judge Philip Pallenberg suspended 12 years of Jacksch's sentence and ordered the 42-year-old to serve eight years in prison beginning Tuesday night. A paperwork mix-up delayed Jacksch's entrance into prison; instead he spent the night with his family at the Driftwood Inn. Jacksch entered Lemon Creek Correctional Center on Wednesday.

Jacksch is the second career military man in as many years to be convicted of sexually abusing children in Juneau. Cmdr. Robert Schetky was sentenced to four years for attempted sexual abuse of a 12-year-old. At the time of his crimes, Schetky was the highest-ranking Navy officer in Alaska.

For 10 years after his release, Jacksch must register as a sex offender and not have contact with anyone under 18 without written approval. Pallenberg said pedophiles have a high recidivism rate and that Jacksch "posed a risk to minors."

The director of the Ketchikan Charter School did not return a phone call Wednesday seeking comment on Jacksch's employment or when it ended.

Tuesday, with his wife and three children present, Jacksch spoke briefly before Pallenberg handed down his sentence.

"I'm truly sorry for the events that occurred, its effect on the families, and its effect on the school," Jacksch said. "I can say from my Coast Guard career, I can follow rules. This will not happen again."

Pallenberg said Jacksch showed no serious acceptance of responsibility for his actions. It's difficult to assess whether or not Jacksch gained any insight into the crimes he committed, Pallenberg said. His apology letters were form mail, he said.

"I'm troubled by the fact that he blamed a 12-year-old," Pallenberg said. "You can't blame a 12-year-old."

Jacksch molested his victim the first time at about 8 p.m. on May 27, 2007, as the child lay in a tent at a church camp with nearly a dozen others. After the child returned from a trip to the bathroom, he zipped "his sleeping bag around his face in an attempt to keep the defendant (Jacksch) from touching him again," according to documents filed by Assistant District Attorney David Brower.

"The defendant (Jacksch) again engaged in extensive sexual abuse," Brower said.

"I was raised in the faith, and it's always been the safest place on Earth," the victim's father said.

No documents in court named the church camp, and Brower said he didn't know the name of the camp. Brower said police intended to follow up with the church retreat in Juneau. There were never any other complaints so officials didn't follow up, Brower said.

The lead Alaska State Trooper investigator on the case did not return a call Wednesday.

Jacksch's wife, Bonnie, said the camp was out the road on private property.

According to court documents, the child's father called Jacksch on May 28 to say he heard "very disturbing things." Troopers were listening when Jacksch told the father he "would probably not understand."

"He grabbed my hand," Jacksch said. "It was comforting."

The child's father said his son would never start a sexual encounter as Jacksch fully described.

"We're into motor sports and 'hoorah stuff,' you know what I'm saying," the father said.

Jacksch admitted to his sexual act in detail and said he had a similar incident as a child. Jacksch said he enjoyed it.

"And then you paid him off like a prostitute," the father said.

Over the phone, Jacksch admitted to paying the child $300 in hush money, according to court documents.

"From our family's point of view, the kid was trying to extort my dad," Jacksch's 17-year-old son, Elliot, said in a phone interview Wednesday. "It's a case of he said she said. It's my opinion that he's innocent."

Elliot Jacksch said his father pleaded guilty to skip the heavy financial burden legal expenses would put on his family.

"You tell me, who's going to win in a child molestation case?" Elliot Jacksch asked.

At sentencing, Defense Attorney Loren Stanton argued that Jacksch should receive a lesser sentence, saying his client was a decorated veteran of the Coast Guard who was suicidal and deeply depressed over the issue. Stanton said Jacksch was willing to pay for his victims' counseling.

"His remorse is extensive," Stanton said.

Chief Petty Officer Barry Lane said he searched two databases and found no records of Jacksch's service. Lane said the failure to find records didn't mean that Jacksch didn't serve. Coast Guard attorneys were not familiar with the case, he said

Elliot Jacksch said his father exited Coast Guard service from Ketchikan in October 2006. If true, Jacksch's first crime occurred while he was serving in the Coast Guard.

Brower said the 2004 Ketchikan molestation of a 10-year-old happened in Jacksch's home. After word got out that Jacksch was arrested on a charge of sexual abuse, the other victim was discovered, he said.

Little information is publicly available about the older crime, and Stanton did not return a call Wednesday.

"I know less about that one," Elliot Jacksch said.

Sadly im sure this happens everyday in our country. Hopefully he gets his "proper" sentencing in prison.
EM1

Wecome to jail Jacksch Hopefully time moves slow for him, real slow.

Prisons usually separate the child molesters from the general population. what a shame. Sure save space, and they will never do the crimes again, as they will be facing their maker in a very short time.

I am sure there is someone on these boards that was stationed there at the time that can confirm or deny his service.........

quote:

Originally posted by Skullduggery:
Prisons usually separate the child molesters from the general population. what a shame. Sure save space, and they will never do the crimes again, as they will be facing their maker in a very short time.

You're advocating murder.

Since one incident occurred while on active duty, following completion of his sentence, he should be recalled and Court Martialed for the prior incident and given a real sentence in a nice military prison with mandatory stay in general population.

That would be unconstitutional. Since the individual was no longer attached to the Coast Guard, he is (was) a private citizen and not subject to prosecution under the UCMJ.

Why does everyone on this thread think that 20 years in prison is a soft punishment? That's an extremely long time to be locked up. I would go insane before I even got checked in there. Also, I'm going to venture a guess that this individual will be on lock down isolation most of the time. That's a lot of time to be alone with one's thoughts.

I don't think 20 is soft at all. But I don't think it's enough either. Sorry, but anyone touches one of my kids and I'll be after them with the biggest knife I can find. There is no excuse whatsoever for doing something like that to a child, one of the most innocent and vulnerable parts of our population. People that do things like that are not fit to live in society or EVER be givin a chance to rejoin it. Sitting in prison thinking about what you would like to do when you get out is barely punishment.

onion,

What is your frame of reference here? Have you actually sat in a small room for 20 years with no one but the little voices in your head for company? I'm not trying to come across as a wise a$$, but I don't see how you can determine whether or not 20 years in prison is a hard punishment without first ecperiencing it. I never have, obviously, but the thought of it makes my stomach turn.

As far as your comment about "the biggest knife [you] can find", well, you're certainly free to do that as long as you can also accept the fact that you'd be prosecuted for murder as a result. We are a civilized society based on order and the rule of law. There is no room for vigilantism. We must accept the fact that while our system is by no means perfect, it is one of the most fair systems the world has ever seen.

FourString,
He is still subject to the Punitive Articles of the UCMJ if he is retired of a regular component of the armed forces and entitled to pay. (ART.2(4)).

Never said I would murder anyone...

And as for my frame of reference? Parent. That's all I need. Now obviously, my wish to take a knife to someone would never come to fruition. But there are no amount of days spent in prison that can make up for the innocence, joy, and potential that are stolen from a child when someone hurts them like that. Sorry, I have no pity. Let someone sit in prison for years dreaming about what they're gonna do when they get out? There's no little voice telling people like that they shouldn't have done what they did. No regret. Just biding their time till they can get out and do it again. They got all the time in the world to figure out better ways to get away with it.

"We are a civilized society based on order and the rule of law. There is no room for vigilantism. We must accept the fact that while our system is by no means perfect, it is one of the most fair systems the world has ever seen."

..........How are you gonna feel when it's YOUR child and not just a hypothetical?

quote:

Originally posted by Wayne_13:
FourString,
He is still subject to the Punitive Articles of the UCMJ if he is retired of a regular component of the armed forces and entitled to pay. (ART.2(4)).

What if he has already been convicted in civilian court? We all know that an active duty member can face "double jeopardy" (they can be held accountbale by civil and military authorities at the same time), but can a retired member be convicted in a civilian court, then be dragged into a military court for the same crime? That sounds fishy to me.

Let back up guy's,. He got 20, but only has to do 8 years and once out has to register as an offender for 10 years. I believe that our soon to be "pillow biter" got off a little to light. He needs more time in jail with his new "special friends" and the loss of his retirement.

quote:

Originally posted by onionhead71:
Never said I would murder anyone...

And as for my frame of reference? Parent. That's all I need. Now obviously, my wish to take a knife to someone would never come to fruition. But there are no amount of days spent in prison that can make up for the innocence, joy, and potential that are stolen from a child when someone hurts them like that. Sorry, I have no pity. Let someone sit in prison for years dreaming about what they're gonna do when they get out? There's no little voice telling people like that they shouldn't have done what they did. No regret. Just biding their time till they can get out and do it again. They got all the time in the world to figure out better ways to get away with it.

"We are a civilized society based on order and the rule of law. There is no room for vigilantism. We must accept the fact that while our system is by no means perfect, it is one of the most fair systems the world has ever seen."

..........How are you gonna feel when it's YOUR child and not just a hypothetical?

So you would just find a really big knife and do nothing with it? I guess, in your anger, you misspoke.

I usually don't engage people like you in this debate since you never listen. You act all high and mighty because you happen to have children, and anyone who does not have children has no business commenting. I'm here to tell you just how wrong you are. I'm really tired of people with kids thinking that just because they engaged in procreation that their IQ is a hundred points above everyone else's. If having children would make me an irrational knee jerker (as most parents act when this issue is brought up) then I will remain happily without children. But then again, I have views on having a family while on active duty that would most likely not jive too well with the family folks around here.

P.S. You're last little comment is very typical. In the absence of a reasoned and logical response, just say things like that.

FourString

He retired in 2006. The first case happened in 2004, if my math is right; while he was on active duty. Being retired he can be called back, "that's part of the reason they give you money ever month",to answer this or anything else he may or maynot have done.
I still want him in jail, a long time, praying everyday that he doesn't drop his soap around his many new special friends.

I didn't misspeak and I didn't say I WOULDN'T do anything with the big knife. Read between the lines.

What are people like me?

You have every right to comment and I have every right to disagree with you and make my own comments. I don't know whether you have children or not and I could care less.

If you want to tell me how wrong I am then go ahead. Then I will turn around and tell you about watching my 5 year old daughter on the table in the doctors office with her feet up in the ****ing stirrups getting an exam because some CHILD MOLESTER did things to her step-sister at her dad's house. I was lucky, guess my girl wasn't quite the right age or he just didn't get to her yet. My ex and his wife had to deal with a 10 year old was abused. Irrational knee jerker? No. There's a little experience here.

I don't assume I'm smarter than anyone else. And I don't ASSume that because someone disagrees with me that they think they are smarter than anyone else.

I have simply stated my opinion. It is what it is. If you have rebuttal, then throw it out there. If not, then please do not assume that I have no frame of reference, or that I automatically think a certain way just cuz I have kids, or can't listen to a reasonable argument.

P.S. That last little comment was a serious question which deserves a serious answer.

No, it wasn't a serious question. It was the typical response from someone who thinks that if an individual is not a parent, then they have no solid frame of reference from witch to comment on the matter. I've heard it a million times before, trust me. When it comes to matters involving children it has become socially acceptable to throw logic and reason right out the window.

As for the knife comment, you're saying that you wouldn't use it to commit murder, but you'd do something with it. Assault with a deadly weapon? That's just as illegal as murder, and you'd do time. It's getting harder and harder to get away with crimes nowadays.

You can tell me about all the five years olds in stirrups that you want, and I'll still tell you that no matter what happened to them, you do not have the right to take the law into your own hands. It's that simple. No amount of personal experience that you have will change my opinion.

FourString

From your writing, I would say you would make a good lawyer. Hey, you know what? I believe Jacksch needs a good lawyer for his appeal,.

FourString,
The outcome of who tries the case is usually driven by which agency has the most stringent sentencing guidelines. The U.S. military court martials are subject to the same laws of double jeopardy. A member can face NJP in the miltary and still be tried for the same crime by the civilian courts or vica versa. However, if a member goes to a Court Martial then the they can’t be tried in Civilian court for that same crime or vica versa. We are talking same charges...

NJP = to a Civil case
Court Martial = to a Criminal case (defendent is protected permanently from double jeoperdy if acquitted).

If this is the case would you want to keep paying a retired member for 20 years while they are serving a sentence?
I am just curious if an Administrative board can stop the pay.