EXCLUSIVE: William Pickerel Behind Bars Again for Sex Crimes

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By Chelsea Kopta

Summary

Police arrested William Pickerel Friday morning for the second time. Like his first arrest in October, he's charged with sex crimes against teen boys. But this time, Pickerel is accused of dirty deeds in Seattle.

Story Published: Nov 30, 2007 at 8:03 PM PST

EXCLUSIVE: William Pickerel Behind Bars Again for Sex Crimes
KENNEWICK -- A long-time teacher is back behind bars.

Police arrested William Pickerel Friday morning for the second time.

Like his first arrest in October, he's charged with sex crimes against teen boys.

But this time, Pickerel is accused of dirty deeds in Seattle.

Seattle Detectives filed five counts against him, all involving Kennewick teens on trips to the west side.

Action News wants to warn you some of the details of this story are graphic.

The investigation started when Kennewick Police tipped off Seattle Police about crimes that, alleged victims said, happened on the west side.

As of late Thursday night, Seattle Police wrapped up their investigation and on Friday morning asked Kennewick police to make the arrest.

Only a few neighbors actually saw police arrest Pickerel at his home.

They told Action News there were just two Kennewick cops in plain clothes, and said Pickerel was completely cooperative.

This is a second warning: parts of the story are graphic.

William Pickerel made hundreds of overnight trips to Seattle with students.

A 14-page report from King County prosecutors said the teacher took at least 20 trips a year with Kennewick High School teens, mostly to watch pro sports games.

On at least half those trips, cops said Pickerel was looking to take advantage of the boys who trusted him.

"When I was in school no one really talked about that," Pickerel's neighbor and former Kennewick High School student Kyle Bricker said.

In the report, Pickerel admits to the bad behavior, telling police he "victimized numerous boys over the course of 27 years."

That goes back to when Reagan was in the White House.

Detectives said Pickerel had difficulty remembering dates and details of the incidents for many of the occasions.

In Pickerel's own words, he admitted "It's a shame that there are so many that I don't remember what each happened."

Seattle prosecutors believe they have enough evidence to charge Pickerel with crimes against five boys, all for sexual misconduct.

All were between the ages of 15 and 17 at the time of the alleged assaults.

Investigators said this trusted teacher had sex with two kids and molested three others over a number of years in Seattle.

Prosecutors are formally charging him with two counts of sexual misconduct in the first degree, one count of sexual misconduct with a minor in the second degree, and two counts of child molestation in the third degree.

The report also lays out Pickerel's disturbing plan of attack.

After the sports games, Pickerel paid for a hotel room with two beds, but there were four boys in all.

Two boys would sleep on one bed while Pickerel shared the sheets with another teen.

The investigation reports, he would make his move once the alleged victim fell asleep, starting with touching the boys.

Detectives said if the boy didn't stop him, Pickerel would masturbate the teen or perform oral sex.

"I guess some people thought he was creepy a little bit but for the most part, everybody that I know liked him," Bricker said.

The documents also report the alleged victims' reluctance to come forward.

In the report, one boy told the officer "he feared that people would think he was damaged."

That same teen also said Pickerel "was the nicest guy in the world. No one wants to be the first to say anything."

Seattle prosecutors told Action News, if Pickerel is convicted of these charges he could face five years in prison.

In the meantime, Pickerel still faces charges locally for sexual misconduct, including sexual misconduct with a minor in the first and second degree.

He bailed out of jail on those weeks ago.

It's a $200,000 bond to bail out this time around.

Otherwise he'll stay in until he's arraigned in King County in a couple weeks.

Police think there may have been more crimes dating back to 1992 but time has run out to prosecute those.