MANDAN, N.D. (KFGO) — A Mandan teenager is being charged as an adult for allegedly molesting a 6-year-old girl and creating and distributing child sex abuse materials.
Prosecutors say 16-year-old Matthew Smith forced the child to expose herself and put objects in her vagina. He took pictures and videos of the abuse, and distributed them to others online.
Court records say investigators searched Smith’s devices and found thousands of images and videos depicting child sex abuse with children as young as toddlers. One video describes how to molest children without being caught.
Smith allegedly communicated with others online about his interest in children. Investigators say they found messages where Smith said he was a pedophile. Some of those messages were sent from Smith’s school-issued computer.
Smith is also charged with sexually assaulting a girl in the cafeteria of Mandan High School. The girl told investigators Smith approached her from behind and put his hand in her pants.
Prosecutors say Smith advertised himself as a babysitter on Facebook. Investigators found an ad in a babysitting group where Smith said he was looking to babysit children between the ages of 4-6 in Mandan.
Smith is facing several felony charges, including sexual assault, possession of child sex abuse materials, and directed an obscene performance by a minor. He could spend over 20 years in prison if convicted.
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