Prosecutors: Man accused of sex abuse was grooming a child from jail

PORT ORCHARD – There are new details in a shocking case of alleged child abuse in Bremerton.

Stephen Jabs, 51, a volunteer at several area schools, is now facing a total of three child rape charges.

Police believe they’ve discovered five victims so far.

And prosecutors allege that Jabs was grooming a child from the Kitsap County Jail, allegedly calling one girl to wish her a happy birthday.

Jabs appeared in court Thursday on new charges alleging he sexually abused several more children.



Police say it all started after parents sounded the alarm, claiming Jabs had taken photos of young girls in compromising positions. Parents were floored when they heard the allegations.

Click here to read an earlier Q13 FOX News story on this case.

“I did see him a few times in the hallway and he was just kind of an odd dude,” said Crownhill Elementary parent Bri Crawford. “He wouldn’t make eye contact, he was really jittery. I thought he was a teacher because he was there so often.”

“I found out the day before my daughter was supposed to start school,” said parent Heather Conklin. “I thought it was horrible.”

Police arrested Jabs at his home last week. Investigators said Jabs would regularly baby-sit several children at his home.

“My son, when he was asked about it, said he high-five'd him in the hallway a lot,” said Crawford. “It was pretty devastating as a parent to know that my son made contact, hand contact, with a gross individual.”

The assaults allegedly took place inside Jabs' home and not on school property but parents worry their children’s safe haven might not feel so safe anymore.

“You see these people and you think that they’re good just because they’re at your school, and you just need to go with your gut. You can’t trust everyone."

Jabs is being held in jail in lieu of $1 million bail.

Investigators worry there could be even more victims.