EVERETT — Police believe a former Everett optometrist downloaded child pornography in North Carolina in June, two months before he was accused in Snohomish County of groping a 10-year-old patient.
The Fayetteville Police Department received a cyber tip from the Center for Missing and Exploited Children in August. By that time, John Patrick O’Brien already had moved to Washington state and had begun a practice in the 3700 block of Broadway.
A detective from the Fayetteville department told Everett police in September that he’d obtained three images believed to be child pornography, according to a search warrant filed in connection with the Everett case. An agent with the North Carolina Bureau of Investigation traced the internet address to O’Brien’s former business.
Everett detectives obtained the search warrant to access a Gmail account allegedly used by O’Brien between June 11 when the images were downloaded and Sept. 16 when he was arrested in Snohomish County.
They suspect O’Brien was generating his own sexually explicit images in August when he allegedly photographed a young patient in various stages of undress. O’Brien, 33, allegedly took off the girl’s shirt, pants and underwear while her father was in the next room.
Everett detectives reportedly recovered eight photographs of the child from O’Brien’s cellphone. They also seized other electronic equipment belonging to him.
O’Brien is charged with first-degree child molestation and possession of depictions of a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct. He has denied the allegations.
There is photographic evidence that reveals “an exceptionally bold, predatory, and reckless compulsion to commit child molestation (a violent offense) despite the risks of being caught,” prosecutors wrote in charging papers.
Earlier this month, O’Brien had his optometry license permanently revoked by the state Department of Health.
He remains in the Snohomish County Jail where he is being held on $750,000 bail.
Eric Stevick: 425-339-3446; stevick@heraldnet.com
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