Editor’s note: This article contains information regarding sexual assault and predatory behavior that is disturbing. Reader discretion is advised.
SOUTH BEND — The pre-sentencing investigation of Jeffery S. Archer, completed by the Washington State Department of Corrections (DOC) ahead of his Sept. 8 sentencing, provided significant new details surrounding his crimes that were not previously released.
Archer, ex-chief of the Ilwaco Fire Department, pleaded guilty in a negotiated agreement on Aug. 5 to two counts of first-degree rape of a child, third-degree rape of a child, and distributing a controlled substance to a minor.
In total, he pleaded guilty to four of the 51 charges he faced; the 47 remaining charges were dismissed.
DOC Officer Van Redding completed the pre-sentencing investigation report on Sept. 2, recommending that Archer face up to life in prison. The report outlined in detail how Archer preyed on his victims from 2013-19.
Pacific County Superior Court Judge Donald J. Richter on Sept. 8 handed down the sentence, ordering Archer to serve a minimum of 236 months — nearly 20 years — up to a maximum of life in prison.
Predatory behavior
Victim 1 — who was around 12 to 13 when the crimes began — told investigators that they were victimized by Archer over approximately a six-year period at a residence in Ocean Park.
According to the report, “(Victim 1) further disclosed being provided compensation and/or marijuana and alcohol by (Archer) for allowing him to perform sexual acts … further mentioned having his … photographed by (Archer) after (Archer) shaved him after coming of age.”
The victim also told investigators that in August 2019, Archer started inappropriate contact with him, and that around that time he was being victimized “every weekend.” The victim was able to provide additional information that Victim 2 was victimized by Archer over “a five-month period in 2019.”
During interviews, Victim 1 detailed the grooming process and how Archer preyed on him.
The victim “stated (Archer) paid for him and his cousin to play football — during this interview he was able to recall that (Archer) also paid for him and his cousins to play T-ball as well as soccer,” the filing notes. “(Victim 1) explained that in exchange for (Archer) to pay for their sporting registrations, he would allow (Archer) to ‘commit sexual abuse.’”
Adding to the pattern, when Victim 1 would ask Archer for something, Archer would reportedly state, “Well, let me do this and then yes, or try to do this then yes.” Archer would then sexually assault the victim.
Investigators documented that “(Archer) would purchase gifts that were more generous around his birthday and holidays, but he would buy him things throughout the year,” noting there “didn’t need to be a special occasion … mentioned remembering (Archer) buying him a hoverboard.”
Throughout the report, the victim recounts time after time that Archer purchased items for him in exchange for sexual acts.
Victim 2 provided similar accounts, noting he was “embarrassed and had difficulties talking about it … turned noticeably red in the face when speaking about what (Archer) did to him.”
“(Victim 2) first stated it started off ‘very weird’ … recalled that some of the incidents happened when he was asleep,” Redding wrote. “… explained that when he would wake up, (Archer) would be (abusing him) … stated that when this occurred, he was too scared to stop him and would pretend that he was asleep.”
Victim 2 “then mentioned that it got to the point where (Archer) got comfortable enough to start … when he was awake … (Victim 2) further stated that (Archer) groomed him by buying things for them … stated that (another individual) would praise them for doing well in school … stated it was actually due to what was going on with (Archer),” the report adds.
It continues
Victim 2 also told investigators that he suspected something was happening to his sibling as well because of “behavior and the items he’s acquired from (Archer) over the years.”
“(Victim 2) then explains that (Archer) claims he has no relationship or knows … now due to … threatening to expose (Archer) and what he did to him,” the findings detail. “(Victim 2) stated that since he told (Archer) he was going to report him, (Archer) shut him out and never talked to him again.”
The victim told investigators that Archer even preyed on him when his mother was around during a holiday. The victim said he met Archer when his mother started going to Archer’s for dinner, and that his mother eventually had a falling out with Archer.
According to the report, Victim 2 provided investigators with details about the first time he was sexually assaulted by Archer. On an unknown date, Archer went into his room, got on the bed with him on his bed, and inappropriately touched him.
Years later, in February 2025, Victim 2 finally disclosed the sexual assaults to his mother but was “shied away from speaking with law enforcement.”
“(Victim 2) explained that when he disclosed this to (his mother), she told (Victim 2) … that he needs to make sure all his ‘Ts’ are crossed due to (Archer) being well known in the community,” the report states. “(Victim 2) stated (his mother) telling him this scared him away from coming forward.”
According to the report, Victim 2 estimated being sexually assaulted “over 10 times over the course of a month and half and was introduced and got to know (Archer) over a period of one year.”
The interview with the victim includes descriptions of horrendous sexual assaults that are eerily consistent with Victim 1’s account.
Defendant’s excuses
Within the pre-sentencing investigation, Archer provided a statement that contains excuses for his actions. He also admitted to being in an active relationship with one of the victims’ younger brothers.
“Archer stated that he was in a relationship with the victim’s father and when that ended, he was in a ‘bad place,’” investigators wrote. “He reported that he was drinking during that time. He said that after they broke up, he maintained a friendship with his ex-boyfriend’s sister who is also the mother of one of the victims. He reported that he would help her out financially by helping with purchasing Christmas presents or buying things for her.”
“She allowed him to babysit the victims and be around them for extended periods which is how he gained/continued to access the victims. Archer did not go into detail regarding his criminal behavior but stated that he didn’t think that he sexually assaulted the youngest victim though he did not outright deny the accusation. He expressed an issue with age by saying he didn’t think he was that young. He stated in the beginning he had ‘boundary issues’ with the victims,” the report adds.
When pressed on what he meant by “boundary issues,” Archer said, “like telling the 10-year-old to take a shower with him.”
“He stated that his current relationship is with the victim’s younger brother who began living with him at age 16 and now is in a sexual relationship with Archer,” the report states. “He skirted around the question of when did they begin having sexual relations. He did not answer the question and hesitated to say they are in a relationship currently.”
DOC: Archer is a community concern
Archer’s behavior demonstrated that not only was he willing to prey on boys, but that he would also groom them. It is that behavior that Redding noted as a significant community concern.
“His actions indicate a combination of both predatory and vindictive behavior,” Redding said. “He sexually victimized the children of his former boyfriend after they had broken up and moved out. He also victimized the child of his ex-boyfriend’s sister. He gained access by financially helping the sister of his former boyfriend.
“He assisted through co-signing for her apartment. He also used gifts to entice the victims to allow him to sexually assault them. This type of behavior indicates that he understood the nature of his actions and continued to commit sexual assaults despite knowing that they were wrong. Archer was also in a position of trust for both the community and victims at the time.
“His deliberate sexual abuse of multiple minor aged victims over a several-year timeframe indicates that there is great likelihood of him potentially creating more victims in the future should he ever be released from prison. The only potentially mitigating factor would be treatment both inside prison and in the community if released,” Redding wrote.
Redding added more in the report’s conclusion.
“Archer is a person who was in a position of trust and used that along with his ability to financially assist and bribe his victims and their families,” Redding said. “He showed little remorse or concern for his victims other than saying he wished he could change what happened.
“He minimized his actions by indicating that he had ‘boundary issues.’ He took in his victim’s younger brother … and allowed him to reside with him when he was only 16. Archer was in a sexual relationship with … who was an adult at the time of Archer’s arrest,” Redding added.
In the recommendations section of the report, Redding recommended Archer face 236 months to life in prison, consistent with a recommendation from the Pacific County Prosecutor’s Office, and in direct conflict with defense attorney David Mistachkin’s recommendation of 178 to 236 months.
