Steve Smith (PHOTO: Louisa County Sheriff’s Office)
LOUISA COUNTY, Va. — A former youth sports coach was sentenced to five years in prison following his arrest for inappropriately touching a girl.
Steven M. Smith, Sr., 43, of Louisa, was convicted of Aggravated Sexual Battery and sentenced to 20 years in prison, but the judge suspended 15 years of that sentence.
“As part of his supervised probation he [Smith] must register as a sex offender, is prohibited from schools and must not have any contact with the victim,” the Louisa County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office wrote in an email. “Smith argued at sentencing that he should not go to prison because the loss of his ability to coach and the requirement that he register as a sex offender were enough punishment. However, the Court agreed with the prosecution that Smith needed prison time for his actions.”
Smith was arrested in March and convicted in August.
“Cases like this should serve as a reminder to everyone that there is a steep cost in attempting to steal the innocence of a child,” Louisa Commonwealth’s Attorney Rusty McGuire said. “Smith will pay that cost at a state correctional facility for the next five years.”
