MOhillbilly
06-17-2005, 01:35 PM
SAN JOSE, Calif. - Police searching the home of a convicted child molester discovered handwritten lists of more than 36,000 children's names — mostly boys — and codes that appear to indicate how he abused them.
San Jose Police Lt. Scott Cornfield described Dean Arthur Schwartzmiller, who is jailed in California, as "one of the most active child molesters we've ever seen."
Police discussed the case for the first time Thursday, in part to urge other victims to come forward. The chilling stash was found last month in 63-year-old Schwartzmiller's San Jose home.
"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," Cornfield said.
The lists are written in loopy cursive on 1,360 pages in seven multicolored, spiral-bound notebooks, according to police. Headings for the logs include "Blond Boys," "Cute Boys" and "Boys who say no," Cornfield said.
Lisa Thornburg, who lives two doors down from Schwartzmiller, said she's been suspicious for months — ever since her 9- and 6-year-old sons came home with treats Schwartzmiller purchased for them from an ice cream truck.
"After that, I told them they could ride bikes past his house but couldn't go inside — ever," Thornburg said. "What are the chances of two people like this living on your block?"
Schwartzmiller's beige stucco ranch is a 10-minute walk from at least two elementary schools. The front door was plastered with eviction notices from the landlord Thursday. Half-closed blinds revealed a home office whose floor was littered with power cords, computer manuals, printers, manila envelopes and a bottle of tequila.
Authorities also arrested Schwartzmiller's roommate, another convicted child molester, who was wanted for violating parole in Oregon. Fred Everts was charged with child molestation in San Jose.
Schwartzmiller was being held without bail on one count of aggravated sexual assault on a child and six counts of lewd and lascivious conduct on a child, with each count alleging multiple victims. He was arrested in Washington state late last month and sent to San Jose on June 7.
A message left for his public defender was not returned Thursday.
Authorities said Schwartzmiller apparently gained the trust of victims and parents by working as a home renovation contractor. San Jose police 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.
Schwartzmiller apparently did not register as a sex offender, so his history did not appear in the "Megan's Law" databases in California or other states, authorities said.
"It's as shocking to me as to you," said Sgt. Tom Sims, a supervisor with the department's child exploitation division. "I've never seen anything like this."
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.
In the 1980s, while living in Brazil, he was extradited back to Idaho to serve more time, Cornfield said. Police believe he may have victims in Brazil and Mexico.
San Jose Police Lt. Scott Cornfield described Dean Arthur Schwartzmiller, who is jailed in California, as "one of the most active child molesters we've ever seen."
Police discussed the case for the first time Thursday, in part to urge other victims to come forward. The chilling stash was found last month in 63-year-old Schwartzmiller's San Jose home.
"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," Cornfield said.
The lists are written in loopy cursive on 1,360 pages in seven multicolored, spiral-bound notebooks, according to police. Headings for the logs include "Blond Boys," "Cute Boys" and "Boys who say no," Cornfield said.
Lisa Thornburg, who lives two doors down from Schwartzmiller, said she's been suspicious for months — ever since her 9- and 6-year-old sons came home with treats Schwartzmiller purchased for them from an ice cream truck.
"After that, I told them they could ride bikes past his house but couldn't go inside — ever," Thornburg said. "What are the chances of two people like this living on your block?"
Schwartzmiller's beige stucco ranch is a 10-minute walk from at least two elementary schools. The front door was plastered with eviction notices from the landlord Thursday. Half-closed blinds revealed a home office whose floor was littered with power cords, computer manuals, printers, manila envelopes and a bottle of tequila.
Authorities also arrested Schwartzmiller's roommate, another convicted child molester, who was wanted for violating parole in Oregon. Fred Everts was charged with child molestation in San Jose.
Schwartzmiller was being held without bail on one count of aggravated sexual assault on a child and six counts of lewd and lascivious conduct on a child, with each count alleging multiple victims. He was arrested in Washington state late last month and sent to San Jose on June 7.
A message left for his public defender was not returned Thursday.
Authorities said Schwartzmiller apparently gained the trust of victims and parents by working as a home renovation contractor. San Jose police 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.
Schwartzmiller apparently did not register as a sex offender, so his history did not appear in the "Megan's Law" databases in California or other states, authorities said.
"It's as shocking to me as to you," said Sgt. Tom Sims, a supervisor with the department's child exploitation division. "I've never seen anything like this."
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.
In the 1980s, while living in Brazil, he was extradited back to Idaho to serve more time, Cornfield said. Police believe he may have victims in Brazil and Mexico.