Minnesota Sex Offender Facing 20 Child Pornography Charges

Austin, MN (KROC-AM News)- A sex offender living in southeast Minnesota is facing 20 felony charges after being accused of possessing child pornography.

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He has been in custody since being arrested in Austin on Dec. 8 on suspicion of violating his parole. The criminal complaint alleges the files were discovered on a cell phone during the arrest.

69-year-old Eric Robert Smith has been charged with 10 counts of possession of child pornography and 10 counts of possession of pornography as a convicted predatory offender.

Smith. Mower County Jail Roster

The complaint says law enforcement found files on his phone depicting children, ranging in age from 6 to under 16, engaging in sexual acts.

Smith complaint. Mower County Court

Court records indicate Smith was convicted of first-degree criminal sexual conduct and second-degree criminal sexual conduct in separate cases in Fillmore County in 2005. He was also convicted of felony first-degree property damage in a Fillmore County burglary case this past March.

Smith remains in custody at the Mower County Jail. His conditional bail was set at $50,000 and he’s due back in court next month.