STEVENS COUNTY, Wash. – A Kettle Falls man was arrested after investigators found he committed multiple child sex crimes.
According to the Stevens County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO), Jacob Karns, 24, was arrested on Jan. 24 after the Eastern Washington region Missing and Exploited Children’s Task Force (MCTEF) notified law enforcement the day prior of a child pornography investigation. Through their investigation, MCTEF believed the suspect was located in Kettle Falls.
The Stevens County Detectives and Deputies, Washington State Patrol, Homeland Security Investigations and Agents with the US Border Patrol served search warrants in the Kettle Falls area where Karns was arrested.
SCSO said various electronic devices showed Karns kept thousands of images of child pornography. Law enforcement also developed probable cause that Karns victimized at least one child.
He is being held at the Stevens County jail on a $250,000 bail. He faces charges of multiple felonies, including child molestation, sexual exploitation of a minor, and possession and dealing in depictions of a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Karns will likely be charged federally as well, SCSO said.
Anyone with additional information about this case should contact the Sheriff’s Office at 508-684-5296 and reference case #2400761.
