Seattle authorities arrested Richard Eugene Jackson, a 57-year-old sexual predator with a decades-long history of abusing children, on Jan. 29, sparking widespread outrage.
Jackson’s extensive criminal record includes convictions for sexually abusing children, possession and distribution of child sexual abuse material, and attempts to contact minors for sexual purposes.
Court documents reveal he previously admitted to abusing approximately 70 children, both boys and girls, and served time in state prison as well as at the Special Commitment Center on McNeil Island, a secure facility for sexually violent predators.
Seattle police said their Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Unit began investigating Jackson last summer after receiving 18 cyber tips alleging he possessed and distributed child sexual abuse material.
Detectives collected evidence from Jackson’s vehicle and an apartment on King Street but found no indication of new in-person abuse of children, KOMO News reported.
Jackson waived his first appearance in King County court on Jan. 30, where a judge determined probable cause to hold him.
Judge Matthew York set bail at $750,000 and ordered Jackson to have no contact with minors and no access to internet-connected devices.
Conservatives have criticized Washington State officials for previously allowing Jackson to walk free after his conditional release in 2025, arguing that his extensive record of sexual offenses made him a clear danger to public safety.
“His record demonstrates he is not capable or unwilling to conform to the law,” prosecutors said during the court proceedings.
KIRO 7 noted that Jackson’s prior convictions include sexual assaults against a 12-year-old and a 7-year-old, possession and distribution of sexual images of children, and attempts to solicit sexual contact from elementary-aged boys.
His first conviction for possession of child sexual abuse material occurred in 2006 while he was already confined on McNeil Island.
After years in secure custody, Jackson was conditionally released in 2019 to a secure community transition facility in King County. He later cycled through less restrictive supervision and returned to confinement following alleged violations.
In March 2025, a sexually violent predator petition against Jackson was dismissed after an expert evaluation, and he was granted unconditional release months before the new allegations surfaced.
During the current investigation, police obtained a warrant to search Jackson’s devices and allegedly found videos depicting sexual abuse of minors, including one nearly 50 minutes in length and another involving a child approximately 4 or 5 years old.
Investigators also discovered chat messages in which Jackson allegedly offered to pay for sexual abuse materials and screenshots suggesting transactions using gift cards and cryptocurrency.
Authorities emphasized that Jackson was under surveillance leading up to his arrest and noted that the investigation focused on digital evidence rather than physical contact.
Seattle police continue to review the devices seized from Jackson’s vehicle and apartment to determine the full scope of the alleged crimes.
The arrest of Jackson raises pressing questions about the duty of public officials to prevent dangerous individuals from reentering communities.
Advocates argue that oversight, proactive monitoring, and timely intervention are essential to keeping children safe.
The case serves as a reminder that elected and appointed authorities must prioritize protection over procedural delays, ensuring that those with histories of predation are closely supervised and held accountable.
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