Hoquiam pastor allegedly molested two sisters over 15 years

HOQUIAM, Wash. — Adair Krack, Pastor of the First Baptist Church of Hoquiam,  was arrested on Wednesday and charged with two counts of child molestation for allegedly victimizing two sisters over a span of more than a decade.

One of the sisters told her parents and detectives that the abuse happened during a church camp that Krack hosted this past summer.

The other said that Kracked molested her fifteen years ago.

The 67-year old Krack is well-loved and respected, according to people who live near the long-time place of worship on Eklund Avenue.

“For what I know of him, he’s a good dude,” Eric White told KIRO 7.  “He helped us out when our family was down and out.”

“He’s just the friendliest guy, it’s hard to believe,” said Deanna Courts.

According to investigators with the Grays Harbor County Sheriff’s Office, Krack molested a 12-year old girl at his home outside Elma this past summer.  Sheriff Rick Scott said the girl told her parents Krack touched her inappropriately while she and her two younger sisters – aged 7 and 9 – stayed at Krack’s home for a week-long visit.

The girls and their parents have been friends of Krack’s family for years and live in Oregon, according to Scott, but were in town to attend Vacation Bible School at Krack’s Hoqiuam church.

“When a person who has been put in a position of trust in the community is the perpetrator of these crimes, it makes it more shocking,” Scott told KIRO 7.

During their investigation, detectives interviewed the alleged 12-year old victim’s now 20-year old sister, who revealed that she, too, was molested by Krack as a young child, 15 years ago.

“Our concern is that, between those two time periods, there’s a lot of opportunity for other children to be victimized,” according to Sheriff Scott.

He said the two younger girls who also stayed at Krack’s home have been interviewed, and are not believed to have been victimized.

Anyone with information that may be relevant to this investigation is asked to contact Detective Jason Wecker at (360) 964-1765.

Krack was booked into jail and bailed out within hours.

Cox Media Group