|
Paedophile was 'black sheep'
18/06/2005 14:29 - (SA)
|
|
|
 |
|
| A police file picture of Dean Arthur Schwartzmiller. (San Jose Police Department, AP) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Seattle - Relatives of a man suspected in thousands of cases of child sexual abuse described him on Friday as a "black sheep" whose only ties with the family dissolved years ago when his grandmother died.
Dean Schwartzmiller, 63, was arrested on May 23 in Washington state on a California fugitive warrant. An anonymous tipster provided information that led to his arrest, Snohomish County Sheriff's spokesperson Rich Niebusch said on Friday.
Authorities searched his San Jose home and found detailed, handwritten records of 36 000 assaults over a span of decades. Headings for the logs include "Blond Boys," "Cute Boys" and "Boys who say no," San Jose Police Lt Scott Cornfield said.
Jack Schwartzmiller of Butte, Mont., said his cousin Dean lost contact with most of his relatives years ago. Dean Schwartzmiller has three brothers and a sister living in western Washington, but they could not be reached for comment.
"They knew he was in trouble all the time and they really had disassociated themselves of him," Jack Schwartzmiller said, calling his cousin "just a black sheep in the family."
Schwartzmiller's family knew he had legal troubles, but are likely "pretty surprised at the part that's coming out now," said his aunt, Shirlea Schwartzmiller of Edmonds.
Authorities said Dean Schwartzmiller apparently gained the trust of victims and parents by working as a home renovation contractor. Police in San Jose got involved after he allegedly befriended at least two boys in the city with gifts, invited them to his house for video games and movies, and molested them.
He was returned to California on June 7 to face molestation charges involving two 12-year-old boys.
Although police said Schwartzmiller appears to have spent much of the past 30 years in California, he has been arrested on child molestation charges in New York, Arkansas and Washington. He also served prison time in Idaho for child molestation in the late 1970s, and is wanted in Oregon on sexual assault charges involving a minor.
Police believe he may have victims in Brazil and Mexico, as well.
- AP
|
