West Virginia Man Pleads Guilty to Child Exploitation Charges
Leo Smith, 21, of St. Albans, has pleaded guilty in Charleston, West Virginia, to charges of distributing and exhibiting explicit material depicting minors, which was found on his cellphone during an investigation in Dunbar.
Charleston Huntington, WV, September 25, 2026 — A 21-year-old man from St. Albans has pleaded guilty to charges related to the distribution and exhibition of explicit material depicting minors.
Leo Smith entered his plea in Charleston, West Virginia. The charges stem from evidence discovered on his cellphone during an investigation conducted in Dunbar. The specific date of the plea or the timeline of the investigation was not immediately available.
During the course of the investigation in Dunbar, authorities found explicit material depicting minors on Smith’s cellphone. This discovery led to the charges he has now pleaded guilty to. The court proceedings took place in Charleston.
Details regarding the exact nature of the distribution and exhibition, the number of alleged victims, or the specific statutes under which Smith was charged were not provided in the available information. The court has not yet released sentencing information, and the contractor’s name was not provided.
The case highlights ongoing efforts by law enforcement to combat the production and dissemination of child exploitation material. Further proceedings are expected to determine the full scope of the charges and any subsequent penalties. The full timeline of the investigation and the date of the offense were not disclosed.
Story summarized from the original created by WSAZ News Staff on www.wsaz.com, see more information here.
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