SAN JOSE, California – The former roommate of one of the most prolific child molesters in the U.S. was sentenced Friday to at least 800 years in prison for sexually abusing three boys.
Fred Everts, 36, was convicted last year of molesting the youngsters, ages 3, 9 and 11. He was sentenced to 800 years to life.
Police discovered the crimes two years ago while investigating Dean Arthur Schwartzmiller, who authorities say may have molested hundreds of youngsters over decades and kept detailed logs on the children.
Schwartzmiller, 65, was sentenced in January to 152 years in prison for abusing two 12-year-old boys. He and Everts had met in prison on earlier molestation charges and eventually moved in together in San Jose.
Steve Fein, who prosecuted both men, said Everts admitted molesting about 40 children, including his 3-month-old biological son. He asked for the maximum sentence of 1,175 years to life.
Everts' sentence was compounded under California's three-strikes law — which sets stiff sentences for people convicted of three felonies — because of two prior felony convictions in Oregon in 1993 for sodomy and sexual abuse on his young stepson.
In asking for leniency, defense lawyer Steven Woodson asked the judge to disregard the previous two felonies and consider his client's admission to the crimes and cooperation with investigators.
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