Convicted pedophile to remain in hospital An...

Convicted pedophile to remain in hospital

An admitted pedophile who had 30 counts of child molestation

dismissed on Tuesday will spend two more weeks in a hospital getting

psychiatric evaluation, officials said Thursday.

Cary Jay Smith, 42, was put in a state psychiatric hospital after

writing a letter fantasizing about a Costa Mesa boy four years ago.

Earlier this year, the district attorney charged Smith with

performing lewd acts on a different Costa Mesa child between

September 1996 and March 1997.

But an Orange County Superior Court judge dismissed all charges

against Smith at the request of Deputy District Atty. Beth Costello.

The prosecutor said she had no choice because the victim was 14, not

13, when the incidents occurred and the shorter statute of

limitations had run out.

After Tuesday’s decision, Smith was sent to a San Bernardino

County hospital for a 72-hour psychiatric evaluation.

Costa Mesa Police Det. Sgt. Jack Archer said Smith could either be

sent back to the state hospital or released after two weeks.

“We’re hoping he doesn’t get out,” he said. “He’s a predator, and

he’s dangerous.”

-- Deepa Bharath