Santa Margarita man cops to child pornography charge
July 1, 2015
Santa Maria High School teacher Michael Smith
A Santa Margarita man and former high school teacher will serve jail time for a child pornography offense. [KSBY]
Michael David Smith, 53, pleaded no contest Tuesday to one felony county of possession of child pornography. Smith previously faced an additional charge of distribution of child pornography.
The plea deal will require Smith to spend 180 days in San Luis Obispo County Jail. He also must pay a fine and register as a sex offender.
Smith was a teacher at Santa Maria High School, where he was also the assistant coach for the varsity boys’ basketball team.
In January, San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s detectives served a warrant at Smith’s I Street home near Santa Margarita Elementary School. Detectives seized computers, laptops, external hard drives, memory cards and DVDs.
One external hard drive alone had multiple images of prepubescent children engaged in sexual acts.
Smith is not currently in jail, according to the sheriff’s office website.
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