SEATTLE, WA - Authorities have announced the arrest of a 63-year-old man after police discovered more than a dozen of his binders containing decades' worth of child pornography in a dumpster near Queen Anne Ave N and John St.
According to FOX13, charging documents state that on March 3rd, two homeless people found several binders left in a dumpster. After looking through them, they saw the photos contained child sex abuse material; they immediately called 911 to report it. Responding police sifted through the garbage and collected 14 binders as well as several loose papers containing child sex abuse material, all of which was printed out and "meticulously catalogued."
The images and material appeared to be printed from a computer with dates ranging between 1998-2013. One of the officer's found a doctor's note mixed in with the binders addressed to Arthur Charles Rickard. Detectives continued the investigation and processed the evidence.
On March 21st, they served a search warrant at Rickard's apartment and took him into custody. During a police interview, Rickard allegedly admitted that he had recently thrown the binders away. Rickard also allegedly confessed to molesting "approximately 50 children" prior to his report and arrest in 1983, and had "not molested any other children since then."
He also reportedly told detectives that "all of his sexual contact he had in his life was with children." Rickard told police he began watching and printing child sex abuse material in the late 90s and early 2000s. Upon searching his apartment, detectives found even more child sex abuse material on Rickard's computer and printed out in boxes around his apartment.
Rickard has been arrested on charges for first-degree and second-degree possession of child pornography. He is currently being held on a $50,000 bail, based on his alleged likelihood to reoffend. He has been ordered to have no contact with children or use the internet without surveillance.
Upon further investigation, the King County Prosecutor's Office found that Rickard was indeed arrested in 1983 for two counts of sexual assault in Montana, however, he was not charged. KOMO News reported that the King County Prosecutor's Office Director of Legislative and Public Affairs Douglas Wagoner said in a statement, "Any time there is an individual who is preying on the misery of children, it really deserves our full attention."
Some of the photos in Rickard's binders were of children as young as six-years-old. The photos depicting child sex abuse appeared to be printed from various websites. Wagoner said, "Police investigators are working closely with our prosecutors to continue to advance that investigation."
He added that more charges could possibly be filed, depending on what new evidence may emerge. Rickard is set to be arraigned on the possession of child porn case on April 7th.
According to FOX13, charging documents state that on March 3rd, two homeless people found several binders left in a dumpster. After looking through them, they saw the photos contained child sex abuse material; they immediately called 911 to report it. Responding police sifted through the garbage and collected 14 binders as well as several loose papers containing child sex abuse material, all of which was printed out and "meticulously catalogued."
The images and material appeared to be printed from a computer with dates ranging between 1998-2013. One of the officer's found a doctor's note mixed in with the binders addressed to Arthur Charles Rickard. Detectives continued the investigation and processed the evidence.
On March 21st, they served a search warrant at Rickard's apartment and took him into custody. During a police interview, Rickard allegedly admitted that he had recently thrown the binders away. Rickard also allegedly confessed to molesting "approximately 50 children" prior to his report and arrest in 1983, and had "not molested any other children since then."
He also reportedly told detectives that "all of his sexual contact he had in his life was with children." Rickard told police he began watching and printing child sex abuse material in the late 90s and early 2000s. Upon searching his apartment, detectives found even more child sex abuse material on Rickard's computer and printed out in boxes around his apartment.
Rickard has been arrested on charges for first-degree and second-degree possession of child pornography. He is currently being held on a $50,000 bail, based on his alleged likelihood to reoffend. He has been ordered to have no contact with children or use the internet without surveillance.
Upon further investigation, the King County Prosecutor's Office found that Rickard was indeed arrested in 1983 for two counts of sexual assault in Montana, however, he was not charged. KOMO News reported that the King County Prosecutor's Office Director of Legislative and Public Affairs Douglas Wagoner said in a statement, "Any time there is an individual who is preying on the misery of children, it really deserves our full attention."
Some of the photos in Rickard's binders were of children as young as six-years-old. The photos depicting child sex abuse appeared to be printed from various websites. Wagoner said, "Police investigators are working closely with our prosecutors to continue to advance that investigation."
He added that more charges could possibly be filed, depending on what new evidence may emerge. Rickard is set to be arraigned on the possession of child porn case on April 7th.
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