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	Ex-Pastor from Port Orchard Sentenced for Sexual Acts with 12-Year-Old By Amy Phan Kitsap Sun August 16, 2011 http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2011/aug/16/ex-pastor-from-port-orchard-sentenced-for-sexual/ PORT ORCHARD — Former Port Orchard pastor Dirk Paul Jackson was sentenced Tuesday to more than three years in prison for having sexual contact with a 12-year-old female student in 2003. Jackson, 33, pleaded guilty to two counts of indecent liberties before Kitsap County Superior Court Judge Leila Mills. He was sentenced to 41 months in prison. The crimes took place while Jackson worked as a pastor and teacher at the now-defunct Manchester Christian Academy from April 2001 to June 2003. According to documents, the now 22-year-old victim tried to report the incidents at the time but was not taken seriously by adults. It wasn't until she ran into Jackson eight years later, while attending First Baptist Church on Sidney Avenue, that she decided to pursue legal actions against Jackson. He was a pastor at First Baptist Church from October 2003 until March, when he was fired after the allegations came to light. The woman went to police because she feared Jackson would abuse other victims. Jackson initially reconnected with her through Facebook, which led to phone conversations. Jackson admitted to the sexual acts during the conversations. Authorities originally weighing a charge of second-degree child rape, before Kitsap County Deputy Prosecutor Kelly Montgomery and defense attorney Lance Hester agreed to the lesser charge of indecent liberty. Jackson will be required to register as a sex offender when he is released from prison, Hester said. A Kitsap County Sheriff's Office investigation turned up evidence of another incident, in early 2000, in which Jackson inappropriately touched a 17-year-old girl. Jackson was not working as a teacher or pastor at that time. Jackson is a longtime resident of Kitsap County who himself attended Manchester Christian Academy from kindergarten through sixth grade.
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