Convicted child killer charged with possessing, distributing child pornography

SEATTLE — A Seattle-area man who served prison time for the 1974 rape and murder of a 6-year-old boy was arrested Thursday on child exploitation charges by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

Andrew Nicholas Evich, 67, of Everett, made his initial appearance in federal court Friday on charges of possession and distribution of child pornography. According to the complaint, Evich was sharing images of child rape and molestation through a peer-to-peer file sharing program while posing as a 13-year-old boy. Evich’s profile caught the attention of HSI special agents investigating Internet child exploitation crimes. HSI special agents are still determining the origin of hundreds of sexually explicit images and videos obtained from Evich.

Evich has a history of sex crimes including the 1974 conviction in Whatcom County Superior Court of the sexual assault and murder of a 6-year-old boy. He was returned to prison in 1985 when he was convicted of contributing to the delinquency of a minor for sexual contact with a 15-year-old. In 1998, Evich was sentenced to five years in federal prison for receipt of child pornography.

If convicted, Evich faces a mandatory minimum 15 years in prison and up to 40 years in prison because of his criminal history as a sex offender. The charges contained in the complaint are only allegations. A person is presumed innocent unless and until he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

The case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Washington.

This investigation was conducted under HSI’s Operation Predator, an international initiative to protect children from sexual predators. Since the launch of Operation Predator in 2003, HSI has arrested more than 10,000 individuals for crimes against children, including the production and distribution of online child pornography, traveling overseas for sex with minors, and sex trafficking of children. In fiscal year 2014, more than 2,300 individuals were arrested by HSI special agents under this initiative and more than 1,000 victims identified or rescued.

HSI encourages the public to report suspected child predators and any suspicious activity through its toll-free tip line at 1-866-DHS-2-ICE or by completing its online tip form. From outside the U.S. and Canada, callers should dial 802-872-6199. Hearing impaired users can call TTY 802-872-6196. Both are staffed around the clock by investigators. Suspected child sexual exploitation or missing children may be reported to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, an Operation Predator partner, via its toll-free 24-hour hotline, 1-800-THE-LOST.

For additional information about wanted suspected child predators, download HSI’s Operation Predator smartphone app or visit the online suspect alerts page.