14 binders of child pornography found in WA dumpster, cops said. 63-year-old arrested
Fourteen binders of child pornography were found in a dumpster in Washington, police said.
The discovery led to the arrest of 63-year-old Arthur Rickard on March 21, the Seattle Police Department said in a probable cause statement provided to McClatchy News.
Before the arrest, a man had been dumpster diving with his friend after midnight on March 2 behind Rickard’s apartment, police said in the document.
The two found a “notebook” with child sexual abuse material and called 911, police said.
An officer responded and got into the dumpster and found a total of 14 binders of child pornography, police said.
Police said the binders had printed images in color that were “meticulously cataloged” and included children as young as 6.
The officer found another bag of trash that had what appeared to be from a home office and included paperwork from a doctor’s office that had Rickard’s name on it, police said.
Handwriting from the binders matched the writing found on medical paperwork belonging to Rickard, police said.
Fingerprints were taken from the binders, and police said they matched Rickard.
Rickard was arrested, and he told police he threw away child pornography behind his apartment, according to the probable cause statement.
He also told police he had molested about 50 children before being arrested in 1983 and had not touched a child since, authorities said.
Rickard was arrested that year on two counts of sexual assault in Montana, but he was not charged, prosecutors said in the charging documents.
More child pornography was found printed in boxes in his home, in addition to images discovered on his phone and computer, police said.
Rickard has been charged with first-degree possession of depictions of a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct and second-degree possession of depictions of a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct.
His next court appearance is scheduled for April 7.
This story was originally published March 25, 2025 at 1:29 PM with the headline "14 binders of child pornography found in WA dumpster, cops said. 63-year-old arrested."
