Schwartzmiller Accused Of Worst Child Molestation Case In History

Convicted child molester Dean Arthur Schwartzmiller, 63, was arrested on May 23 in Everett, Wahington, after he allegedly befriended at least two 12-year old boys in San Jose, plied them with gifts, invited them to his house for movies, and then molested them. Schwartzmiller was extradited to San Jose on June 7, where investigators from the Snohomish County Sheriff's office began looking into the charges against him, not knowing how grim and disturbing their investigation would prove to be.

Police went to search the home he shared with another convicted sex offender, Fred Everts, who was also arrested last month on charges of child molestation including one count involving one of Shwartzmiller’s two alleged victims. The stucco ranch home they shared, just a few minutes walk from at least two elementary schools, was littered with power cords, computer manuals, manila envelopes, and a bottle of tequila, and the front door was plastered with eviction notices from their landlord. Deputies seized several computers and a 6-foot tall server from the home, all of which are being analyzed by forensic specialists to determine whether the two were operating a website or otherwise using the computers to lure potential victims. They also seized seven spiral-bound notebooks containing over 1,300 pages of frighteningly disturbing handwritten notes listing details recorded by Schwartzmiller. The lists include names of boys that were molested, along with what appear to be codes for various sex acts. The total number of sex acts described in the lists totals more than 36,000, grouped into categories of such as "Cute Boys," "Blond Boys," "Boys who say no," as well as categories grouped by the age of the victims, specific sexual acts, and other categories with vague or mysterious headings.

San Jose Police Lt. Scott Cornfield called the case horrendous. "If any of these numbers are even close to accurate, then it is one of the most significant child molestation finds that we have ever encountered," he told reporters. "If one-tenth of these numbers are accurate, we're looking at hundreds of victims in a number of states. The reason we want to tell the world about this is because we believe he's been involved in child molestations in a number of countries," said Cornfield. In addition to the charges Schwartzmiller faces in San Jose, he is also wanted in Oregon on felony sexual assault charges involving a minor.

Both Schwartzmiller and his Everts are convicted child molesters who have served prison time for their convictions, and both have disturbing and shadowy pasts that raise questions about how and why these felons were able to remain on the street. Everts was convicted of sodomy in 1993 in Oregon and spent four years in prison, and after his release he violated his parole and left the state. Schwartzmiller’s checkered past is particularly troubling because of the numerous convictions in several states. Although he has spent most of the last 30 years in California, he has also been arrested on child molestation charges in Idaho, Arkansas, Oregon, Washington, and New York, and he has also lived in Brazil, Nevada, and Texas. The Idaho Supreme Court in 1984 upheld a 1978 ruling convicting Schartzmiller of molesting two 14-year old boys, and he served prison time in Idaho for that conviction. The court characterized him as a repeat offender who "uses his intelligence to take advantage of the weak and oppressed, and those who are in need." Court records paint a gruesome picture of Schwartzmiller’s activities, saying that he "frequents areas where young boys may be found, befriends boys with no father figure in the home, entices them from their homes, lowers their natural inhibitions through the use of drugs and alcohol, and commits sex acts upon them." He has used numerous aliases, including Dean Harmon and Dean Miller, gaining the trust of victims and their parents by working in their homes as a home renovation contractor.

Schwartzmiller’s neighbors and acquaintances are shocked and disturbed to learn of his past and current charges. An Everett woman who describes Schwartzmiller as a longtime family friend of her parents told reporters that he had spent the night at her home the day before his arrest. Lynda Pichler said that she and her three brothers had been doted on by Schwartzmiller when they were growing up, and he would often spend an entire afternoon at their house when he was in town, spoiling the kids. Pichler said that her own daughters think of him as a grandfather. Lisa Thornburg, who lives two doors down from the house rented by Schwartzmiller and Everts, said that she has been suspicious of him since her two young sons came home one day with treats Schwartzmiller had bought for them from an ice cream truck. Because of her suspicions, Thornburg told her sons that they could ride their bikes past his house, but they were absolutely not allowed to go inside. "It's been frightening and fairly disgusting to find out what's going on," she added.

Sgt. Tom Sims, a supervisor with the departments’ child exploitation division, told reporters, "It's as shocking to me as to you. I've never seen anything like this." Speaking about his frustration with the fact that Schwartzmiller has lived most of his life out among the public despite multiple convictions in numerous states, Sims added, "There's not a lot parents or the public can do in way of Megan's Law if those people don't register." Not a lot the public can do? Perhaps parents and the public are partly responsible for monsters like Schwartzmiller living among them. If the American legal system is naïve enough to blindly believe that repeat offenders will be good citizens and register like they’re supposed to, then the legal system should shoulder some of the blame for placing such trust in convicted felons.

Police are asking victims or anyone with information about Schwartzmiller to call the San Jose Police Department's child exploitation division at 408-277-4102. People who wish to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at 408-947-STOP.