ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, April 3, 1997 TAG: 9704030034
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-3 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: STAFFORD
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
Police caught abuser in pornography sting.
A jury has recommended a 114-year prison sentence for a man convicted of sexually abusing an 11-year-old boy he baby-sat.
John David Smith, 33, of San Francisco was found guilty Tuesday of molesting the child, now 12, in August 1995 when Smith watched the boy and his younger sister while their mother was on her honeymoon.
The boy never told anyone about the molestation. The charges - seven counts of inanimate object sexual penetration, seven counts of aggravated sexual battery and 11 counts of taking indecent liberties with a child - stemmed from a police undercover investigation of child pornography.
The jury also recommended Smith pay a $70,000 fine. Sentencing is scheduled for June9.
An investigator, Detective Tom Polhemus of Fairfax, met Smith after infiltrating the North American Man-Boy Love Association and learning about Smith's relationship with the boy. Smith visits the area once a year to see his mother, who lives in Prince William County.
Police set up a sting and arrested Smith, who had with him both looseleaf and videotaped child pornography.
On Tuesday, Smith yelled out in court, ``I love you,'' to the boy after the jury recommended its sentence, drawing an additional 10 days in prison from Circuit Judge James Haley Jr. for contempt of court.
Outside the courtroom, the boy's mother said she believed the jury's verdict and recommended sentence were appropriate. When asked how he felt about Smith, the boy said, ``I hate his living guts.''
LENGTH: Short : 41 linesby CNB