Church girls allegedly molested

A 25-year-old Oak Harbor man, son of a pastor, is facing accusations that he molested and assaulted teenaged girls who attended his father’s church.

Kenneth Eric Webb was charged in Island County Superior Court June 18 with child molestation in the second-degree, child molestation in the third degree, assault in the fourth-degree with sexual motivation and assault in the fourth degree.

Webb was released on his personal recognizance — without bail — at a July 16 hearing on the condition that he does not have any unsupervised contact with girls and stays away from First Baptist Church in Oak Harbor.

According to the police report written by Oak Harbor Detective Teri Gardner, a 13-year-old girl recently told investigators that Webb “had molested her more than once.” The girl knew Webb through the church and detailed one incident in which he inappropriately touched her while babysitting her about two years ago, the report states.

Based on the information from church members, investigators looked into other allegations against Webb from girls who’ve attended First Baptist. A 15-year-old girl told police that Webb had “sexually harassed” and fondled her a year ago. A 14-year-old girl said Webb rubbed her thigh in one incident, and another time, “grabbed her by the back of the next and forced her to the ground,” the report states.

Gardner also interviewed a 17-year-old member of the church who said he had witnessed Webb sexually harass and assault girls. The boy claimed “some people left the church because of this.”

Webb’s attorney did not return a phone call for comment.

Detective Gardner said investigators believe there may be other victims, or individuals who have additional information about the case, in the community. Anyone with any information can call her at 679-5551.

You can reach News-Times reporter Jessie Stensland at jstensland@whid

beynewstimes.com or call 675-6611.

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