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
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