Herald staff
OAK HARBOR — A sex offender convicted of kidnapping and assaulting his boss’s young son is be released from prison Jan. 3 and plans to live in the Oak Harbor area, the Island County Sheriff’s Office warned.
Jared Vandewerfhorst, 20, pleaded guilty in Lewis County Superior Court to second-degree kidnapping and second-degree assault of a child, both with sexual motivation, authorities said.
In 1999, Vandewerfhorst drove to his employer’s home and convinced the man’s 11-year-old son that his father needed him at work. Vandewerfhorst then drove to a secluded area, where both got out and Vandewerfhorst made the boy uncomfortable by walking closely, officials said.
A struggle broke out when the boy asked to be taken home. Ultimately, Vandewerfhorst threw the boy against the truck repeatedly, briefly knocking him out, authorities said. He then dropped off the boy at a rural store.
Vandewerfhorst was sentenced to 41 months in state prison.
He will be supervised in the community for three years, and has been ordered by the court to have no contact with any children, including his own son, without prior approval. Among other restrictions, Vandewerfhorst must avoid places where children gather.
He is white, 6 feet 1 inch, 170 pounds, with brown hair and blue eyes. He has been rated a Level 2 offender, considered a moderate risk of committing further criminal acts.
Sheriff Rick Hawley will conduct a public meeting on sexual offender issues at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Monroe Landing Fire Station, 1160 Monroe Landing Road.
Report any suspicious circumstances to 911, or from the central/north Whidbey area by cell phone, 360-678-6116 or 360-679-9567.
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