Federal Grand Jury Returns Indictment Charging Para-Educator With Possession of Child Pornography

The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont stated that on April 10, 2019, a federal grand jury sitting in Rutland, Vermont, returned an indictment charging Bradley Smith, 66, of Jericho, Vermont, with one count of possession of child pornography.  Smith will be arraigned on the indictment by U.S. Magistrate Judge John M. Conroy on April 16, 2019.

According to court records and proceedings, the Vermont Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (the ICAC) received a CyberTip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) which reported that a file depicting child pornography had been uploaded to an Internet search engine.  Law enforcement investigated the CyberTip and determined that the image of child pornography had been uploaded from Smith’s residence in Jericho, Vermont.  On April 1, 2019, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Smith’s residence.  At this time, Smith disclosed, among other things, that he possessed child pornography on his computer, that he had been interested in child pornography for “decades,” and that he found images of child pornography to be sexually arousing.  A forensic preview search of Smith’s computer revealed that he possessed more than 100 images of suspected child pornography.

Prior to execution of the search warrant and his arrest, Smith was employed as a para-educator in a first-grade classroom at the Union Memorial School in Colchester, Vermont.

If convicted of the charge, Smith faces a sentence of up to 10 years imprisonment, a term of supervised release of at least five (5) years and up to a lifetime term, and a fine of up to $250,000.  If convicted, Smith’s sentence will be determined by reference to the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines.  U.S. Attorney Nolan emphasized that the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. 

U.S. Attorney Nolan commended the efforts of the Vermont Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and Homeland Security Investigations. 

Assistant U.S. Attorney Barbara A. Masterson is handling the prosecution of Smith.  Assistant Federal Public Defender Steven L. Barth represents Smith.

U.S. Attorney Nolan noted that this prosecution is part of the U.S. Department of Justice's Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse.  Led by the U.S. Attorney's Offices, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.