Man Gets Five Life Sentences for Molesting Children
The man pleaded guilty in August to 11 sex crimes, including sodomy, rape and child molestation.
A St. Charles County man was sentenced Friday to five life sentences after pleading guilty to molesting three children and possessing child pornography.
Harley J. Smith, 37, of St. Charles County, pleaded guilty Aug. 28 to four counts of statutory sodomy, two counts of first-degree child molestation, one count of statutory rape, one count of statutory rape, sexual misconduct involving a child and two counts of child pornography possession.
St. Charles County Circuit Court Judge Ted House on Friday sentenced Smith to five life sentences plus 34 years in prison on the charges.
The crimes took place between October 2008 and January 2012. according to court documents. Each of the three children were less than 12 years old during the crimes.
For more crime information on St. Charles Patch, see the following articles:
- Man Indicted on Sex Crimes with Young Girl
- St. Charles Man Sentenced to 20 Years in Murder Case
- Life in Prison for Man Convicted of 2007 Murder of St. Charles Insurance Agent
Sue Reese
7:20 am on Monday, November 5, 2012
Glad to see justice done.
Terry Cooper
12:36 am on Sunday, January 13, 2013
He'll be back on the streets in 5 years for good behavior. And the judge will be shocked when he kills or rapes a child.
KitCat Catterton
9:09 pm on Friday, March 22, 2013
@ Terry Cooper...why on earth would he be "back on the streets in 5 years for good behavior?" He was sentenced to FIVE LIFE SENTENCES PLUS 34 YEARS FOR GOD'S SAKE!!!!!! It's NOT exactly as if the judge said "Shamey, shamey, here's a TWO year sentence to think about what you've done!" Sadly, our judicial system doesn't permit judges to order public stonings or "an eye for an eye" type of punishment these days, so aside from what he's already done (which incidentally, I personally consider to be a damn sight more harsh-& RIGHTFULLY SO!-than MOST / NEARLY ALL SENTENCES YOU READ, SEE OR HEAR ABOUT THESE DAYS!!!!!), what sentence exactly is it that you expect him to hand down?
Ken Abate
11:54 am on Saturday, March 23, 2013
@kitcat Death would be an appropriate sentence for a child molester.
monica emerson
11:01 am on Sunday, March 24, 2013
@ kitcat Don't be upset with terry cooper he does not understand the legal system or its terms , he would have never made the comment he has. @ terry cooper plus years after a life sentence means you will never see the light of day again, regardless of who you know.
kendra villela
1:25 pm on Friday, April 26, 2013
Terry Cooper is right unless its give life sentences with out the chance of parole and it doesn't say that so yes he could get out for good behavior