Sex offender arrested after attempted assault on two women

Published 2:23 pm Thursday, July 28, 2016

By Mark Briant
mbriant@soundpublishing.com

BREMERTON — A 30-year-old registered Level 3 Sex Offender was arrested within minutes following an assault of two young women in Stephenson Canyon Park on the evening of Friday, July 22.

Quick work by Bremerton police officers had the man under arrest and hand-cuffed before he had the chance to escape the scene.

Two Bremerton women, ages 21 and 22, were walking their dogs on the trails in the park in East Bremerton. At 5:20 p.m. they were approached by a man who made a few comments and then grabbed one of the women’s breasts. He took her cell phone from her pocket, saying, “this is my phone.”

The other woman immediately dialed 911 on her cell phone. The man reached across and grabbed the second woman’s breasts, but as he tried to get that phone, she threw it to the other woman. The suspect then threw her to the ground and attempted to strangle her.

The woman fought him off and he left, heading south toward the wooded area in Stephenson Canyon. Officers were immediately dispatched with a description.  Between the dispatch call from the 911 center and the police officers’ arrival, just four minutes elapsed. Officers located and arrested the suspect before he could even leave the park. Arresting officers said the man was sweating profusely and was shaking uncontrollably when he was placed into handcuffs.

The man was identified as a 30-year-old sex offender named Vern Hess. He is a registered Level 3 Sex Offender, meaning he is in the category of “likeliest to reoffend.”

He was convicted of two sex offenses in Pierce County in 2013, according to public records. He was released and relocated to Bremerton. Hess was jailed on $500,000 bail and a probable cause statement was completed for review for charges of Robbery in the 2nd Degree and Assault in the 4th Degree with Sexual Motivation. The charge was later amended to Second-Degree Attempted Rape. If the upgraded charge is upheld, Hess could face 15-20 years in prison.

Information on Hess’ background, as well as other sex offenders, is available on the public sex offender database through the Kitsap County Sheriff website at www.sheriffalerts.com/cap_main.php?office=54474.