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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Judge Orders Sex Offender Back To Jail

A convicted child molester who was freed from jail earlier this month pending trial on another sex charge is back in custody.

Darin A. Putnam was re-arrested March 12, a week after he was released on his own recognizance, according to court documents.

Judge Tari Eitzen issued a warrant for Putnam’s arrest after learning he had violated the conditions of his release.

Prosecutors told Eitzen that Putnam had not maintained his residence in the 2400 block of West LaCrosse after he was freed from jail.

On March 5, Eitzen granted Putnam’s release until his April 20 trial on an indecent exposure charge. She set several conditions, including that he live at the West LaCrosse address.

Eitzen’s decision to release the 37-year-old Putnam concerned police and relatives of the victims.

Putnam has a history of molesting children, including a 1991 conviction for an incident involving a 10-year-old girl.

He is currently accused of masturbating in front of a 12-year-old Spokane girl and her 10-year-old sister on Feb. 15.

Putnam has pleaded not guilty. He is being held in the county jail on $20,000 bail.

, DataTimes