Thousands of boys molested? Cops seek victims

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Arrested in other states
Although police said Schwartzmiller appears to have spent much of the past 30 years in California, he has also been arrested on child molestation charges in New York, Idaho, Oregon, Arkansas and Washington. Police said he also has lived in Nevada and Texas.

San Jose police got involved after Schwartzmiller allegedly befriended at least two boys in the city with gifts, invited them to his house for video games and movies, and molested them.

He also is wanted in Oregon on sexual assault charges involving a minor. He also served prison time in Idaho for child molestation in the late 1970s. He then lived in Brazil, and was extradited from there to Idaho again in the late 1980s to serve more time, Cornfield said.

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Authorities also arrested Schwartzmiller’s roommate — another convicted child molester wanted for violating parole in Oregon. Fred Everts also was charged with child molestation in San Jose.

Friend: Like grandfather to kids
Schwartzmiller was arrested in Everett, Wash., on May 23 while visiting a longtime family friend, Lynda Pichler.

The Seattle Times reported that Pichler said Schwartzmiller and her parents went to high school together, and that Schwartzmiller had spent the night at her home the day before his arrest.

Pichler added that she and her three brothers were spoiled by Schwartzmiller when they were growing up and that her own daughters think of him as a grandfather.

"He loved to spoil us kids," she said.

Neighbor says she was suspicious
A San Jose neighbor of Schwartzmiller said he was always outside playing with children who used his bikes, according to The San Jose Mercury News.

"He sat in the front yard all the time hanging out with kids,'' said Lisa Thornburg, a software company worker who lives two doors down from Schwartzmiller with her two sons, ages 6 and 9.

Thornburg said she never spoke to Schwartzmiller, but noticed he always had toys in his yard to "make kids interested in playing over there.''

About twice a week, she added, a man would drop off two young boys at Schwartzmiller's residence.

Thornburg, who moved in a few months ago, said she warned her boys to stay away from Schwartzmiller after he bought them ice cream from a vendor.

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San Jose police urge anyone with information on the case to call their office at (408) 277-4102. Persons wishing to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at (408) 947-STOP.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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