Bail set at $150,000 for Seattle cop accused of molesting young girl

Eric Smith, 57, of Bothell, who has been a Seattle police officer for more than 20 years, appeared in court Tuesday, July 1, 2014. He is accused of molesting his former girlfriend's daughter from the time she was 7 until she was 11. (Photo: KCPQ-TV)



EVERETT -- Bail was set at $150,000 Tuesday for a veteran Seattle police officer who is accused of molesting his former girlfriend's preteen daughter for four years.

Eric Smith, 57, of Bothell, who has been a Seattle police officer for more than 20 years, appeared in Snohomish County District Court earlier Tuesday.

The arrest follows an investigation that began two weeks ago, after the girl spoke out. But investigators say this most recent revelation wasn't her first cry for help.

Court documents show Smith's arrest on Monday follows an investigation that began June 18 when the victim -- now 12 years old --  told a health teacher she`d been touched inappropriately. Documents say the victim told investigators Smith had forced her to perform sexual acts with him several times between 2009 and 2013, when he was seeing her mother.



Documents go on to say the child first told her mother about the abuse in 2009 when she was 7, but recanted after being confronted by Smith in front of her mom. The girl also wrote letters to her friends detailing the abuse.
"The defendant is a danger to the community," the prosecutor said of Smith in court Tuesday. "He's an untreated sex offender. This is a case where the allegations span over a four-year period of time from the time the victim was 7 to the time she was 11."
The Seattle Police Department said Smith was placed on administrative leave once it learned of the allegations.

Snohomish County prosecutors have until Thursday to file charges against Smith.