A Snohomish County Superior Court jury Wednesday ruled that a man who was convicted of abusing five young children is a sexually violent predator likely to commit more crimes.
Edward K. Smith, 42, has been in prison since 1993 when he was convicted of three counts of child molestation. He had been living in Arlington.
At the time, he was on parole for a sexual offense against two children in California, according to court documents.
When Smith was about to be released from prison, state assistant attorney general Arlene Anderson went to court asking for him to be committed to a secure facility — the Special Commitment Center on McNeil Island. It is a secure treatment facility for those judged to be violent sexual predators.
The jury listened to expert testimony for more than a week. It deliberated for about six hours on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Public defender Jennifer McIntyre argued that Smith had been doing well in prison and had been responding to treatment. She also argued that the state experts were incorrect in diagnosing Smith as a dangerous pedophile.
Anderson argued that Smith also has a personality disorder that would likely prevent him from controlling an impulse to be a predator. She said Smith needs to be held in a secure facility to protect the community.
In Arlington, the assaults happened when Smith was asked to baby-sit some youngsters. During his treatment, Smith also disclosed assaults on other children, Anderson said.
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