Child rapist captured in Spanaway bails out of jail less than 2 days after being captured

Theodore Burnett



TACOMA -- Convicted child rapist Theodore Burnett was released from jail on $10,000 bond early Saturday morning after being arrested on Thursday.

He pleaded not guilty to one count of Failure to Register as a Sex Offender when he was arraigned Friday afternoon in Pierce County court.

“The deputy prosecutor asked for the standard bail given the information he had at the time of arraignment. Based on new and additional information, we will be requesting a hearing to significantly raise the bail amount and get this defendant back into custody where he belongs. We will base our arguments on the risk of flight and his danger to the community,” said Pierce County Prosecutor Mark Lindquist.

Burnett’s next court appearance is scheduled for 06/09/2016. Burnett was caught thanks to two Washington’s Most Wanted viewers who spotted him behind a Chevron gas station in Spanaway.

"He went in the bushes and chugged a beer. Started to walk toward Home depot and then he saw a Pierce county vehicle stopped at the light and went straight back into the bushes. That just confirmed my suspicion. We drove around

to the Cash America parking lot to make sure he didn't get out of sight and that's where Pierce County picked them up,” said the anonymous tipsters who helped deputies catch him.

Burnett had been wanted since February 1, 2016 for Failure to Register as a Sex Offender. In 1994, he was convicted of Sex Abuse 1st Degree and Sodomy 1st Degree in Linn County Oregon. He had sexually abused an 8-year-old girl on at least two separate occasions. That same year, he was also convicted of another count of Sex Abuse 1st Degree. The victim was a 9-year-old girl. In 1978, Burnett was convicted of Rape 3rd Degree. He sexually assaulted a 12-year-old girl and got her pregnant.

"He did not participate in sex offender treatment, so he has not had any help other than being incarcerated." Said Pierce County Det. Ed Troyer.