On that day, Cole County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a report of a vehicle parked on the side of the road in the Centertown area. Upon approaching the vehicle, deputies found Smith engaging in sexual contact with a minor child in the back seat of the vehicle. Further investigation revealed that Smith had been habitually assaulting the child for several years.

Smith pleaded guilty in September of this year to one count each of rape in the first degree, child molestation in the second degree, endangering the welfare of a child in the first degree, and incest. Today, Cole County Circuit Judge Cotton Walker heard arguments from Smith’s defense attorney and Cole County Assistant Prosecutor Carol Seaver as to an appropriate sentence. After hearing argument, Walker sentenced Smith to thirty years for rape, thirty years for child molestation, seven years for endangering, and seven years for incest. Walker then ordered the thirty-year sentences to run consecutively. Due to the nature of the offenses, Smith is not eligible for parole until at least eighty-five percent of each thirty-year sentence has been served.

“I am pleased with the sentence handed down today,” Thompson said. “I hope there is closure for the victim and her family in knowing that the defendant will spend the rest of his life behind bars. I would like to thank the Cole County Sheriff’s Office for their work on the case, as well as Therapy Paws and our office’s victim advocates for helping the victim through the entire court process.”