News Summary
Sean-Michael Smith, a registered child sex offender, has pleaded guilty to charges related to accessing child pornography over the internet. He faces a minimum of 10 years in federal prison, with his sentencing hearing scheduled for September 29, 2024. Smith’s actions were discovered during a routine check by U.S. Probation Officers, leading to the finding of multiple prohibited materials. This case highlights ongoing efforts by law enforcement in Jacksonville to combat child exploitation.
Jacksonville – A 36-year-old registered child sex offender, Sean-Michael Smith, has pleaded guilty to charges related to accessing child pornography over the internet. Smith faces a minimum sentence of 10 years and a maximum of 20 years in federal prison, and may be subject to a life term of supervised release following his incarceration. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for September 29, 2024.
Smith’s guilty plea stems from a series of incidents in which he acknowledged utilizing the internet to access prohibited content. Incorporating information from court documents, it has been revealed that Smith had previously registered as a sex offender after a conviction in 2014 for distributing images and videos depicting child sexual abuse. Recent investigations into Smith’s activities began in December 2024 when U.S. Probation Officers conducted a search of his residence as part of a routine check for contraband, during which they discovered evidence of child pornography.
During a follow-up interview, Smith admitted to accessing child pornography on a specific device and confessed to creating sketches of nude children, further highlighting his criminal behavior. The FBI subsequently identified approximately 35 photographs of children being abused on Smith’s device, confirming the serious nature of the offenses he has now admitted to.
This case is part of broader efforts by law enforcement to combat child exploitation in Jacksonville. Recently, Jacksonville Sheriff T.K. Waters announced the results of “Operation Rescue Our Children,” which targeted individuals attempting to exploit children online. This operation took place from May 13 to May 18, during which undercover detectives posed as minors to uncover predators attempting to solicit sexual activities.
As a result of this operation, 24 men ranging in age from 21 to 61 were arrested on charges including soliciting minors for sex and other sex-related offenses. Some suspects were also found to be in possession of firearms and illegal drugs at the time of their arrests. Among those apprehended was Greg Bethel, a civilian supply specialist with the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, who resigned immediately following his arrest. Another suspect, Ray Scarboro, an active duty Navy sailor, was caught attempting to engage in sexual activities with someone he believed to be a 13-year-old girl. Kyle Judd, also arrested, is noted to be a registered sex offender with a history of sex crimes.
In discussing the operation, Sheriff Waters characterized this initiative as a proactive measure aimed at ensuring the safety of children in the community. The collaboration involved multiple law enforcement agencies at federal, state, and local levels, further demonstrating the unified approach taken to address the ongoing issue of child exploitation both online and offline.
These cases highlight a disturbing trend of child exploitation and the steps being taken by law enforcement to bring offenders to justice. The plea by Smith and the arrests in the recent sting operation illustrate the ongoing risk faced by children in online environments and the dedicated efforts within law enforcement to combat such threats.
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Additional Resources
- WOKV: Convicted Jacksonville Sex Offender Pleads Guilty
- First Coast News: Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office Child Sex Sting Operation
- WITN: Former Jacksonville Bank Executive Found Guilty
- Action News Jax: Sheriff T.K. Waters Announces Multiple Arrests
- First Coast News: Desantis Sex Offender Bill Florida
- Wikipedia: Child Sexual Abuse
- Google Search: Child Exploitation
- Google Scholar: Child Pornography
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Child Abuse
- Google News: Jacksonville Child Exploitation
Author: STAFF HERE JACKSONVILLE WRITER
JACKSONVILLE STAFF WRITER The JACKSONVILLE STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREJacksonville.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Jacksonville, Duval County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as the Jacksonville Jazz Festival, Riverside Arts Market, and World of Nations Celebration. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce and JAXUSA Partnership, plus leading businesses in logistics, healthcare, and entertainment that power the local economy such as CSX Corporation, Baptist Health, and VyStar Credit Union. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREOrlando.com, HEREStPetersburg.com, HERETallahassee.com, and HERETampa.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Florida's dynamic landscape.