Additional charges have been filed in the case of the Pullman School District janitor arrested late December for the alleged rape and molestation of a child.
Eric Anthony Robins, 51, was initially arrested on charges of rape of a child 1st degree and child molestation 1st degree, according to the Whitman County inmate listing website. Robins was working as a janitor for the Pullman School District at Jefferson and Sunnyside elementary schools at the time of his arrest.
Upon Robins’ arrest, a warrant for his home technology devices resulted in an additional five charges, according to Ruben Harris, Pullman Police Department operations commander.
When detectives searched Robin’s devices, they found evidence that incriminated Robins in additional alleged crimes; two charges of child rape in the first degree and three separate charges of depictions of a minor in sexually explicit conduct, according to Harris.
“We got the electronic information and found some initial things there which led to those further charges…we got another search warrant for his residence again to go get essentially items within the home that are [found] in the pictures and videos…we wanted to seize those items as evidence that those pictures and videos occurred at that location,” Harris said.
According to Harris, the department is still searching through the mountain of digital evidence that resulted in the additional charges being filed.
“What I can say is detectives are going through a mountain of digital information looking for things that are particular to this case…there’s a lot of information on the devices; it takes a lot of time to isolate and describe what they’re finding,” Harris said.
An additional warrant has also been issued for Robin’s personal cell phone. The warrant is currently pending approval.
According to Harris, the information starting the case originated on Dec. 22. The alleged victim, whose identity is hidden, had an appointment with a child forensic interviewing expert, whose conversation with the alleged victim produced the information the case is based around.
“The only thing I can say is when we get information like we got, then our process is to essentially use any resources that we have to help…we essentially want to know as much as we can about everything before we talk to the suspect. I do know that the victim was in a safe place [during investigation and arrest],” Harris said.
Robins has a prior criminal record under a different alias, with charges including aggravated assault with a firearm and a misdemeanor assault in Moscow, to which he pled guilty, according to details released by the prosecutor’s office during Robin’s first court appearance.
According to Harris, the alleged victim has no relation to the Pullman School District or Robin’s work in the elementary schools. Harris declined to comment on whether the timeline of the alleged abuse coincided with Robin’s work for the schools.
“We have a lot of people that we need to protect…and to hold back as much information as is appropriate…it’s just the process of getting all the digital information and the details are disturbing,” Harris said.
