Convicted child rapist arrested in luring case

LYNNWOOD – A convicted child rapist released from prison in June has been arrested for allegedly trying to lure a girl into his car.

Snohomish County sheriff’s deputies arrested Robert Garza, 55, Wednesday on suspicion of luring.

Garza, 55, was convicted in 1992 of nine sex crimes, including raping a child as young as 11. When he was released, he was classified as a Level 3 offender, considered highly likely to reoffend.

He moved to the 16100 block of Highway 99 in Lynnwood earlier this month. After his move, the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office sent notices to his neighbors.

When one mother showed her daughter the notice with the man’s photograph, the girl recognized him as the man who had offered her a ride on Saturday, according to court documents filed in Everett District Court.

The girl told sheriff’s investigators that she was waiting in front of her home for a friend when she saw a car drive by, then turn around.

She stepped back a few steps from the curb, saying she’d seen on the television crime show “America’s Most Wanted” how people will sometimes try to grab kids, court documents say.

A man she identified as Garza pulled up and asked if she wanted a ride. She turned away and walked down her driveway, court documents say, and the car drove away.

Garza is barred from having any contact with children, according to the state Department of Corrections. The girl’s age was not released, but authorities said she was younger than 12.

Garza denied trying to lure the girl and said he hadn’t talked to any children, according to court documents.

Garza pleaded guilty in 1992 to multiple counts of child rape, statutory rape and incest.

Garza was convicted of forcing himself on runaways he allowed to stay at his home, according to the sheriff’s office. The children were ages 11 to 16, and he made threats to kill them if they told anyone.

Everett District Court Judge Thomas Kelly ordered Garza held on $200,000 bail.