Weidman man, 52, facing multiple child porn charges

A Weidman man was arrested Tuesday on six charges relating to child pornography.

Robert Erman Smith Jr., 52, engaged in sexual contact with an individual older than 13 years of age but less than 16 years of age, according to the Isabella County Sheriff’s Department.

Smith was arrested after deputies searched his Nottawa Township residence on Tuesday night and seized computers and numerous pornographic video tapes and digital video discs containing child pornography, police said.

He is charged with one count of criminal sexual conduct in the fourth degree with a victim between 13 and 16 years of age, two counts of making, producing or financing child sexually abusive activities, one count of using a computer to commit a crime, one count of distributing or promoting child sexually abusive activity, one count of possession of child pornography and one count of distributing sexually explicit visual or verbal matter to a minor.

Smith faces up to 75 years in prison and $290,500 total in fines if he is convicted of all six charges.

The investigation started Monday and he was arrested and put in the Isabella County Jail, 207 N. Court St., Tuesday, said Isabella County Sheriff Leo Mioduszewski.

“It was a 24, 25-hour investigation,” Mioduszewski said.

Smith is lodged in the Isabella County Jail on a $2 million bond as of Thursday afternoon.

Mioduszewski said he does not expect related arrests at this time, but the incident remains under investigation by the department.

metro@cm-life.com