Convicted coach gets life sentence Posted On: Friday, Jul. 17 2009 01:15 AM By Hayley Kappes
Killeen Daily Herald

BELTON – A former Little League coach will spend the rest of his life in prison for the continuous sexual abuse of several youth players and their friends.

William Thomas Jacobsen, 32, of Little River-Academy, opted to receive sentencing from Judge Joe Carroll of the 27th District Court instead of the jury, which found him guilty in a 27-minute deliberation.

Jacobsen was the first person indicted and tried in Bell County under a new law that went into effect September 2007, which raised the punishment range between 25 years to life in prison without parole for continuous sexual assault crimes that occur beyond a 30-day period.

Prosecutors Paul and Leslie McWilliams placed two more of Jacobsen's victims on the witness stand during the hearing.

One was a member of the team Jacobsen coached, the other was a friend who would frequent Jacobsen's home with other players.

Both boys were 12 at the time Jacobsen sexually abused them multiple times, between Sept. 1, 2007, and June 7, 2008.

During the conviction trial, two other victims testified that Jacobsen threatened to harm them or their family members if they told anyone about what was happening.

Testimony indicated the abuse and Jacobsen's threats increased in severity as time continued.

A sexual assault nurse examiner with Scott & White Hospital in Temple treated one of the boys three days after an assault occurred.

The nurse photographed the victim's injuries, which revealed rectal hemorrhaging and skin breakdown on his genitals.

Bell County sheriff's investigators scheduled an appointment to speak with Jacobsen's wife, Marilyn Wesson, about a week after one victim reported the abuse.

Jacobsen and Wesson, 58, fled Bell County four days before his arrest warrant was issued. U.S. Marshals captured the couple in Nuevo Laredo, Mexico, and extradited them to Bell County.

Wesson will face trial Wednesday for hindering apprehension.

Defense attorney Michael White called no witnesses to the stand, and asked the prosecution's witnesses few questions.

Leslie McWilliams said she was pleased with Carroll's judgment.

"I was hopeful he would get life, but you never expect anything," she said. "Jacobsen will spend the rest of his miserable life in prison where he belongs."

Contact Hayley Kappes at hayleyk@kdhnews.com or (254) 501-7559.