West Virginia man who filmed infant sex abuse sentenced to life in prison

A West Virginia man convicted of filming an infant being sexually abused will likely spend life in prison.

Kanawha Circuit Judge Tera Salango sentenced Richard Smith II, 41, on Wednesday to serve a maximum of 775 years behind bars. He is technically eligible for parole in 205 years.

Smith was convicted last month of 11 counts of first-degree sexual abuse, four counts of sexual assault and five counts of sexual abuse by a parent, guardian, custodian or person in position of trust.

After handing down the sentence, Salango told Smith the videos he made that jurors had to watch “brought grown men to tears,” the Charleston Gazette-Mail reported.

“I think that you are one of the most evil persons who I’ve ever encountered,” Salango said.

Smith declined to speak before being sentenced.

Smith and his ex-girlfriend, Roseanna Thompson, were arrested in May 2018 and accused of recording Thompson’s granddaughter being abused three years prior, state police said at the time. The arrests came after troopers were tipped off that Smith had child pornography at his home, news outlets reported.

Thompson is scheduled to stand trial in April.

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Jan. 12

A West Virginia man convicted of filming an infant being sexually abused will likely spend life in prison when he is sentenced next month.

Richard Smith was convicted on all counts against him in Kanawha County Circuit court Wednesday, including 11 counts of first-degree sexual abuse, four counts of first-degree sexual assault and five counts of sexual abuse by a parent or guardian, news outlets reported. He faces 205 to 775 years in prison at a March sentencing hearing.

Smith and his ex-girlfriend, Roseanna Thompson, were arrested in May 2018 and accused of recording Thompson's granddaughter being abused three years prior, state police said at the time. The arrests came after troopers were tipped off that Smith had child pornography at his home, news outlets said.

Thompson is set to go to trial in March.