PULLMAN, WA – The Pullman School District is reviewing its background check protocols after an elementary school custodian with a criminal record was arrested for allegedly raping and molesting a child.
51-year-old Eric Robins of Pullman was arrested last week. Robins remains in the Whitman County Sheriff’s Office Jail in Colfax on 200,000 dollars bond. He has been formally charged with felonies for 1st degree child rape and 1st degree child molestation. If convicted, Robins could spend the rest of his life in prison. Pullman Police Detectives believe that Robins sexually assaulted a young girl. The alleged victim is not connected to Robins through his job. The case doesn’t involve any Pullman schools, students or district operations.
Robins criminal history includes a 2002 conviction in Louisiana under an alias for aggravated assault with a firearm. In 2019, he spent four days in jail in Moscow after pleading guilty to misdemeanor assault. In 1997, Robins was wanted on a military authority fugitive warrant in California. He was hired as a substitute custodian by the Pullman School District in January of 2022. Robins was promoted to full-time custodian a month later. He was a night custodian at Jefferson and Sunnyside Elementaries.
Pullman Superintendent Dr. Bob Maxwell told district families and staff on Friday with an email that Robins passed his background check. Maxwell tells Pullman Radio News that those background checks go through the state superintendent’s office using the Washington State Patrol and FBI databases. The screening uses fingerprints. Maxwell believes that Robins was fingerprinted as part of his background check. Maxwell points out that he is prohibited from answering specific questions about the Robins case for legal reasons.
Maxwell stresses that Pullman School District officials are reviewing their background check policies.
Robins has been placed on leave and is banned from Pullman School District property and all school activities while the case is pending. He is set to be arraigned on Thursday.
