EVERETT — An Arlington man recently sentenced to 28 years in prison for murdering his girlfriend is facing more time behind bars for having sex with an underage girl.
Arlington police uncovered the sex crimes while investigating the April 8, 2014 shooting that killed Jessica Jones, 25. Evidence suggested that Daniel Lyle Rinker was having sex with a 13-year-old girl a year before the fatal shooting.
The girl reported that they continued to have sex after Rinker killed Jones.
Rinker, 27, pleaded guilty Tuesday to second-degree child molestation and third-degree rape of a child. He faces nearly 10 years in prison. Prosecutors agreed to recommend seven years behind bars with the caveat that Rinker not start serving his sentence for the sex crimes after he’s done his time for killing Jones.
He could be in his 60s when he’s released.
Rinker shot Jones in the head during an argument inside his grandparents’ garage. He first told detectives Jones was shot by someone in a passing car. Neighbors heard arguing before the gunfire and later saw Rinker toss something into a nearby field. Detectives recovered a gun in that same area.
Witnesses reported that Rinker had threatened Jones in the past. Detectives also suspect that he was worried that Jones was going to break off their relationship.
Doctors removed Jones from life support on April 9, 2014. She left behind a son.
During that investigation Arlington detective Mike Sargent discovered online conversations between Rinker and a girl, then 15. The day after Rinker was arrested police found the girl at his grandparents’ house. The girl was taken into protective custody.
She initially denied any sexual contact with Rinker, but later admitted that they’d had sex after Jones was killed, Snohomish County deputy prosecutor Elise Deschenes wrote in court papers.
After his arrest Rinker spoke to the girl from jail and encouraged her to stay with his grandparents.
Detectives also reviewed recorded phone calls between the girl and Rinker when he was in jail in 2013. The girl told him that she might be pregnant. He encouraged her to get an abortion and advised her to drink bleach. Rinker said he would “go for a long time” if she gave birth. She was 13 at the time.
Rinker will be required to register as a sex offender. He is scheduled to be sentenced in April.
Diana Hefley: 425-339-3463, hefley@heraldnet.com. Twitter: @dianahefley
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