Smith did not hear the verdict read by Judge Erik Blaine because he left the courthouse on Wednesday just before closing arguments in the bench trial. Smith took off his electronic monitoring device, which last gave a location in Franklin. Smith was still at large Friday.
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âHe coached her to lie. He coached her to hide things from her family and coached her to stay silent about his abuses and manipulations,â Blaine said. âThat kind of coaching is criminal and today the Court is shedding lights on the darkness of his deeds.â
Blaine revoked Smithâs $50,000 bond and ordered no bond when he is apprehended. Sentencing will be scheduled after Smith is located because it canât go forward without the defendantâs presence.
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Montgomery County assistant prosecutors said Smith faces up to 15 years or more for his convictions and now could face a felony escape charge for disabling his monitoring device.
The victimâs family declined comment, but Smithâs attorneys urged their client to report to authorities.
âWeâre concerned for his safety,â defense attorney Michael Booher said. âWeâre concerned he didnât do anything rash or do anything to hurt himself. Certainly, Iâd like to see him come back and finish this case up.â
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Booher and co-counsel Adam Arnold said they plan to appeal the decision after Smith is sentenced.
âThe court finds the testimony of the victim to be highly credible,â Blaine said during Fridayâs hearing. âThe court does not find the testimony of Mr. Smith to be credible.â
Assistant prosecutor Dylan Smearcheck said Smithâs testimony â after which he left the courthouse â rang hollow.
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âWeâre very pleased with todayâs verdict,â Smearcheck said. âWe feel like it appropriately reflects all the facts. The evidence was overwhelming in this case.â
Her advice for Smith was: âTurn yourself in. No good can come from waiting.â
Pretrial services officials said the electronic monitoring system is necessary to reduce the jail population and maintain community safety.
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Some of the victimâs family members teared up and hugged after Blaine read his verdicts.
âMr. Smith took advantage of the innocence of a child. He broke the trust of her parents, who were supposedly his friends. And he abused the authority of the position that he had been given,â Blaine said.
âAnd instead of using his role to strengthen the confidence and character of tomorrowâs young women, Mr. Smith indeed isolated and abused her â one of the very girls he was supposed to protect.â
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