Convicted child molester caught living next to day care: 'We will push for maximum sentence of 5 years'

TACOMA  --  Convicted child molester Robbin Earl Smith is being held on $75,000 bail for allegedly failing to register as a sex offender.

He was arraigned on Monday in Pierce County

Superior Court.

Washington's Most Wanted viewer tips led officers with the U.S. Marshals Task Force, DOC’s Southwest Community Response Unit, FBI’s South Sound Gang Task Force and the Pierce County Community Support Team to a trailer park in Puyallup, where they found him living in a van next to a day care on 112th Street.

In 1997, Smith pleaded guilty to first-degree child molestation. The child was under the age of 10.  He also has convictions for second-degree burglary, second-degree theft and failure to register  x 5.  Because of his offender score, Smith is looking at prison time.

"We will push for the maximum sentence of five years. The defendant has a long criminal history, including prior convictions for failing to register as a sex offender. We vigorously enforce these laws to make our community safer," said Pierce County prosecutor Mark Lindquist.

A trial date has been set for May 23.