Man convicted of possessing child porn

COEUR d’ALENE — A jury handed down a split verdict in the case of a Spokane man accused of possessing child sexual abuse material.

Jurors found 36-year-old Chadlen D. Smith guilty last week of sexual exploitation of a child by possession of sexually exploitive material, a felony.

The jury acquitted Smith on the misdemeanor charge of distribution/exhibition of obscene material.

Smith has a prior felony conviction of injury to a child, stemming from a 2009 lewd conduct case.

He was arrested last January for allegedly stalking a Post Falls Police Department employee. He was later arrested again and charged with violating a protection order.

Electronics in Smith’s possession at the time of his arrest were seized as possible evidence in the stalking case, according to court documents.

Forensic examination of the devices reportedly yielded images of nude children, toddlers and infants, as well as other photos of children that did not qualify as pornography.

Police arrested Smith for suspicion of sexual exploitation of a minor but released him the next day, as charges had not yet been filed.

After obtaining a warrant for Smith’s arrest, police took him into custody again.

Post Falls police said Smith admitted to using the internet to search for nude photos of children.

Jurors convicted him specifically of possessing an image that contained a collage of photos of a child whose genitals were exposed.

Sexual exploitation of a child by possession of sexually exploitive material is punishable by up to 10 years in prison.

Prosecutors said they’ll seek a prison sentence.

First District Judge Barbara Duggan ordered that Smith remain in jail until his sentencing on June 9.