University of Utah Professor Pleads ‘Not Guilty’ to Watching Child Porn on Flight – But Admits Trading Pics of Teens
- Posted on November 28, 2011 at 10:02pm by
Tiffany Gabbay
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On Sunday The Blaze brought you the disturbing story of a man who was arrested for viewing child pornography on a laptop during his first class Delta flight from Salt Lake City to Boston on Saturday afternoon. That man turned out to be none other than 47-year-old Grant Smith, a professor at the University of Utah.
To make matters worse, prosecutors say the father of two purchased the very laptop on which he viewed pornographic images of children aged 5 to 14, with grant money.
According to CBS, Smith, who pleaded not guilty, was arraigned Monday in East Boston District Court. Bail was set at $75,000. If released, he will be prohibited from having unsupervised contact with children.
CBS reports that a passenger noticed Smith looking at the images in question and promptly alerted the flight crew. In addition, the passenger reportedly e-mailed a relative and asked them to call police.
Investigators say Smith began to erase the dubious files after a flight attendant told him to shut off his computer.
CBS explains what happened next:
State troopers met Smith after the plane landed at Logan Airport and took him into custody.
Police say they found several disturbing files on his laptop, including photos of children, mostly girls, ranging from 5-to-14 years old.
Smith has been charged with possession of child pornography. He was also ordered to stay off the Internet, unless it’s for business purposes.
Smith is a divorced father of two young children. He is a professor of material science and engineering and an adjunct professor of chemical engineering at the University of Utah.
Prosecutors say his laptop was purchased with grant money.
While Smith does not have a criminal record, prosecutors said he admitted to police that he has traded pictures of teenagers over the Internet.
State police spokesman David Procopio issued the following harsh statement about the arrest:
In the view of the State Police, child pornography is a form of child sexual abuse–nothing less. Those who possess it — a crime unto itself — foster an evil network that sexually abuses and exploits children irreparably.
Stopping child pornographers is a critical part of our mission to protect children. Along with our federal and local partners, we execute dozens of warrants related to this wicked crime each year. One hopes there is a special place in Hell for the evil people who make, trade, and possess child pornography. Until they get there, we are committed to putting them in jail.
Smith is due back in court December 27th.
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Comments (74)
seanmom
Posted on November 29, 2011 at 4:08amHere‘s what’s awful. I am trying to get a Master’s in Forensic Psychology. Why? Because i want to have a hand in putting bad guys behind bars. However, the powers that be of psychology want forensic psychologists to be like psychologists, who are supposed to put the well-being of the patient first–even if the patient is a psychopath you are assessing for treatment or interviewing to see if he’s fit for trial. Psychology and law enforcement are on a collision course, and it will get worse when the new Diagnostic Manual (DSM-V) comes out. They are still figuring out what’s going to be in it, but there’s a group within psychiatry (B4U-ACT) that is trying to get pedophilia reclassified so it’s only a disorder if the pedophile has relations with more than one child AND if he feels bad about it. PLUS they are introducing new terms to the literature, like “intergenerational sex”. They are trying to normalize something every jurisdiction in America considers one of the worst crimes imaginable.
The academic world is full of perverts. Not just in the liberal arts departments. It’s a sickness that is PC-approved.
Report Post »Walkabout
Posted on November 29, 2011 at 5:36amScary.
But you need another salvo top make an affect I think.
How many people actually work on the DSM. Sure there is tens of thousands of psychiatrists, but how many actually are on the committees that set the standard?
How are those people chosen? Who are they & what is their agenda?
B4U-ACT is a small group considering the total number of psychiatrists. The media basically ignored them & said they were nothing.
But a group for 20 or 100 among say a 1,000 or 2,000 that would rewrite the DSM. That is a significant number especially if the are very vocal. We need better number than the press give us.
We also need to know how the sausage is made. I don;t care what Bismark said. We need to know how the DSM is made. It is as important as the quest for a fusion reactor, It will be used& abused.
If the DSM is written wrong we will be abused.
Report Post »piper60
Posted on November 29, 2011 at 10:55amPlease keep the Blaze posted as to what ends up in that manual. It may be important to keep us conservatives informed. Who else would have that information outside your profession otherwise.
Report Post »ZaphodsPlanet
Posted on November 29, 2011 at 3:48amAmazing how liberals and their moral relativism (Don’t Judge me Man) can be used to do pretty much anything. Taking showers with young boys …. hey… no problem, “don’t judge me man!”. Have sex with your elementary or middle school students(or just have them dress in bras and panties and decorate your Christmas tree for fun)….. “Don’t judge me man!”. Whip out a laptop, paid for with grant money(our tax dollars), and check out some almost legal 6 year old girls…. in freaking public!!! , “Don’t judge me man… sure she‘s 6 but the guy I downloaded these from said she’s like 7 and a half and that’s old enough, at least it should be man”.
Talk about some instant karma. Makes you wonder why his wife divorced him.
Report Post »i am satire 12
Posted on November 29, 2011 at 9:14amI didn’t notice anywhere in the article that mentioned that he was a liberal. Would you mind highlighting the portion of the article that details his political leanings?
Report Post »zorro
Posted on November 29, 2011 at 9:36amHe’s a University professor. Statistically, ZAPHODSPLANET would be right. Although, he’s from Utah. He could also be a Mormon. Still, that doesn’t make him conservative. Look at Romney…..
Report Post »strawberryfieldsforever
Posted on November 29, 2011 at 11:51am@Zorro – HILARIOUS!
Report Post »BSdetector
Posted on November 30, 2011 at 7:30amHere is the portion of the article that mentions he’s a liberal “a professor.”
Report Post »Any questions?
SHOWMESTATEGUY
Posted on November 29, 2011 at 3:08amWhat is it with these liberal American college professors / coaches? They seem to be into child debauchery as much as the muslims are. Wait a minute, maybe that’s why they are pushing Islam in this country. Maybe it’s because the dem libs and muslims are on the same page concerning this issue.
Report Post »loriann12
Posted on November 29, 2011 at 7:08amYea, and maybe that’s why the liberal left is pushing for the age of consent to be dropped to 12.
Report Post »demint.disciple
Posted on November 29, 2011 at 8:23am@LORIANN12.. Seriously loriann, I can’t find ANYTHING on your claim.. I looked through 15 pages with different titles.. If you are going to make a claim, can you atleast give a link or something ? It‘s not that I don’t believe you, it’s that since you said it, I’m interested in it, but I can’t find a friggin thing on it.. I would say that this is untrue if I can’t find ANYTHING on it on the world wide web. Sorry
Report Post »abbygirl1994
Posted on November 29, 2011 at 2:32amPornography is all forms is a horrible horrible thing.. it destroys lives and families.. There is help.. and I hope this man gets it.. Satan is raging and this is just another one of his tools to destroy lives. God help those who become addicted to such horrible evil things!
Report Post »Grea C Chimp
Posted on November 29, 2011 at 1:53amMaybe he teaches real good when he ain’t in full perv mode.
Report Post »Dockta
Posted on November 29, 2011 at 1:30amChild porn capital of the USA….Utah
13th Imam
Posted on November 29, 2011 at 8:08amBut he acts like Bill Clinton
Report Post »your sensei
Posted on November 29, 2011 at 10:24amYep, highest porn consumption of all 50 states – Utah – home of the godly – MOST. CONSERVATIVE.STATE.
Report Post »Bluedog78
Posted on November 29, 2011 at 11:36amAny references to back up that claim?
Report Post »Howsit
Posted on November 29, 2011 at 4:47pmYour senseless doesn’t need to back anything up, it just knows!
Report Post »Aerocog
Posted on November 28, 2011 at 11:56pmDamn, why do we have such a problem with this in Utah? Gosh, a nice religious state but you look a little under the covers and some creep.
Report Post »Pouncing Porcupine
Posted on November 29, 2011 at 2:17amFor Utah, it started in Missouri with Joseph Smith. The pioneers kept the tradition alive and going.
Report Post »Chuck Stein
Posted on November 30, 2011 at 2:52amIt’s everywhere. Interestingly, the University of Utah is an intensely anti-Mormon school. They booted a Mormon girl who wouldn‘t take the Lord’s name in vain in a drama class (Laura Axton-Flynn). She sued, lost in front of USDC Utah’s most liberal judge (Campbell). Then she appealed to the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals and won. That‘s what it takes for a Mormon girl’s 1st Amendment rights to be respected at the University of Utah — three U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals judges!
Report Post »Got2bRoni
Posted on November 28, 2011 at 11:28pmThis is sad. He needs to be castrated if he is guilty.
Report Post »Modawg734Blue
Posted on November 29, 2011 at 1:09amCasterated for being a pervert? Little harsh don’t you think? Raping a child, yeah, don’t stop with the sac, take it all. Looking at pictures….. Let’s get realistic here. Under your law, 75% of parents, would be disfigured for taking pictures of their children in the tub or on the potty. Is what he did right, NO, was it a crime, YES, was it a crime worthy of physical mutilation……. NO. This is still America, and cruel and unusual punishment is still illegal here.
Report Post »SHOWMESTATEGUY
Posted on November 29, 2011 at 8:56pmMODAWG73BLUE—————
“Looking at pictures…..Let’s get realistic here”.
The pictures in question were not pictures of little kids sitting on the potty that a loving parent had taken.
The pictures in question were little kids being subjected to a sex act. You need to realize that a picture is not harmless. Someone took the picture, someone did the deed. The person that suffered was the little child. People are wrong to assume that just looking at pictures is harmless. If you look, you are just as guilty as the person taking the picture or the person doing the deed. Period.
Report Post »Chuck Stein
Posted on November 30, 2011 at 3:07pm@ Showmestateguy
Report Post »I think that you understate your position. The perv’s “mere” act of “looking at pictures” is not all that is at issue — he has ADMITTED to SHARING pictures. I don’t know the law on this sort of stuff, but if I were writing the law, the sharing of pictures would be a much higher level of offence than viewing pictures. The analogy that I see is drug usage versus drug distribution.
Young
Posted on November 28, 2011 at 11:15pmHe is a ****!
Report Post »ZeroOff4impact
Posted on November 28, 2011 at 11:14pmDon’t drop the soap lover…..
Report Post »Modawg734Blue
Posted on November 29, 2011 at 1:10amThank you, I needed a good laugh!
Report Post »colt1860
Posted on November 28, 2011 at 11:03pmHe’s probably just the result of an immoral society indoctrinated by a Communist public school system, and very liberal Media, which teaches do as thou will.
Report Post »georgeisn6
Posted on November 28, 2011 at 10:43pmCant be aginst the law for this fellow, he has tenure. But these coaches and proferssors may have to have a claus in their contracts to put a number on how meany children they are entitled to have per year.
Report Post »CATPBJ
Posted on November 28, 2011 at 10:42pmBeing a professor at Utah Mr. Smith the creepy pedophile is likely another of those “family values” republicans! LOSER!
Report Post »Handsome Pete
Posted on November 28, 2011 at 11:03pmI doubt it. U of U is the liberal college in Utah that pretty much hates Mormons, values, etc.
Report Post »GeorgieBaby
Posted on November 28, 2011 at 11:28pmAs a U. alumn, your comment is totally off-base. It is a good school, and one can find what one looks for at that school. It’s not all liberal, and not all of us turned out to be a communist/socialist. What it did was teach critical thinking skills. Not a common trait amony most Blaze posters.
In addition, the school does not hate Mormons. It draws a strong LDS community from the surrounding areas. Just with any college or university whether conservative, liberal, private, or non-private, you can find what you are looking for in the social and academic arenas. If one finds oneself in a situation where your beliefs and values are being criticized and lied about in these environments, there are good ways of approaching them. Now THAT takes some intelligence, skill, and maturity.
Finally, this is a man who has a serious problem that hurts others. Pornography in any of its forms is dangerous and a serious issue.
Report Post »Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
Posted on November 28, 2011 at 10:32pmHe was just doing research for his Pediatrician degree.
Maybe he was thinking of converting to Islam and was trying to pick out a wife.
Report Post »lukerw
Posted on November 28, 2011 at 11:57pmThis is how it stikes me: Funny — sad!
Report Post »cemerius
Posted on November 28, 2011 at 10:31pmAhhh if he wre a “minority” Eric Holder would refuse to have him prosecuted….
Report Post »Free2speakRN
Posted on November 29, 2011 at 1:47amOne wonders.
Report Post »KingCanon
Posted on November 28, 2011 at 10:29pmWhat happened to the libs decision to allow, by law, the men and boy sex thingy? Was that not yet passed to make this an OK thing? Can’t remember and just asking?
Also, if society is SO liberal why is this even a problem? Again… just asking? Wasn’t someone in Congress recently condemning a conscious anyway?
And yes it is sick and yes I am being glib on lib!
Report Post »libertyerdeath
Posted on November 28, 2011 at 10:21pmStupid and perverted Ute!
Report Post »GeorgieBaby
Posted on November 28, 2011 at 11:29pmYou must be a Cougar, or a rabid fan. Typical.
Report Post »SurhanSurhan
Posted on November 28, 2011 at 10:21pmMy God, when will it end. Christians will take sex from anyone they can, even if it‘s a young boy’s! This is embarrassing!
Report Post »Their Mom
Posted on November 28, 2011 at 10:34pmWhere does it say that he is a Christian? Most professors in state universities are liberals and anti-faith.
Report Post »Eleutheria
Posted on November 28, 2011 at 10:48pmHave I mentioned that Mohamed was a hermaphroditic hybrid son of a pig and a dog?
Report Post »iwalkalone
Posted on November 28, 2011 at 11:04pmFunny how the people that practice these things with pride always try to blame it on Christians and act like the Christian victims of their prejudicial unfounded accusation ALL practice it and then they suddenly imply there is something evil about their practices. Like the gay men that “sacrifice ” themselves to priests use it to sue the church. Yet never sue individuals that actually did the dirty deeds (no deep pockets) I think it is a gay conspiracy to attack the religions that find them odious perverts dangerous to children.
Report Post »hi
Posted on November 28, 2011 at 11:08pmHe actually is a Muslim looking at pictures of his 7 year old wives without their hijabs.
Report Post »SurhanSurhan
Posted on November 28, 2011 at 11:40pm@ ELEUTHERIA- Jesus called non Jews pigs and dogs. The English word gentile is goyim in Hebrew and goyim means; nasty, filthy, dirty non Jew.
Report Post »Latter-Day-Soldier
Posted on November 29, 2011 at 1:05amMight I remind you surhan, that your prophet, Mohammad, married a 9-year old girl and “consummated” the marriage ( other people would call that statutory rape) two years later.
Report Post »heartitorleaveit
Posted on November 29, 2011 at 2:57amWomen are your fields: go, then, into your fields whence you please. (Qur’an 2:223, Dawood)
Report Post »Walkabout
Posted on November 29, 2011 at 3:18amSurhan
Sailors will tell new sailors to not be in the cargo holds of ships when they are being unloaded by longshoremen in places like Egypt. Tells me everything I need to know about the likes of you.
Report Post »Walkabout
Posted on November 29, 2011 at 3:40amKafir (Arabic: كافر kāfir; plural كفّار kuffār) is an Arabic term used in a Islamic doctrinal sense, usually translated as “unbeliever” or “disbeliever”. The term refers to a person who rejects God or who hides, denies, or covers the “truth”.
Kafir
Derogatory term used to describe Jews or Christians in Arabic or Islamic studies.
The Qur’an uses the words Kafir, Kuffar, and Kufr 470 times in 451 different verses
————————————–
Goy (Hebrew: גוי, regular plural goyim גוים or גויים) is a Hebrew biblical term for “nation”. By Roman times it had also acquired the meaning of “non-Jew”.[1] The latter is also its meaning in Yiddish.
1835–45; < Yiddish < Hebrew goi nation, non-Jew, Jew ignorant of the Jewish religion
1. A Hebrew word used in the Jewish Scriptures (a.k.a. the Old Testament). The word literally means "nations," and is always used within these scriptures to refer to the nations of the world. Significantly, within the Old Testament, Judah (the Jewish nation) itself is called a "goy."
Report Post »2. In the Old Testament, the Jews were called to be a nation separate from the other nations, which were all Pagan. And so, colloquially, all non-Jewish nations came to be called "goyim" as in "the nations" from which the God of the Old Testament had called upon the Jews to separate themselves.
3. A word used by some Jews to refer to Gentiles (non-Jews). The word can have describe the Israelites, th
SurhanSurhan
Posted on November 29, 2011 at 9:23am@ WALKABOUT- The Arabic word Kafir is more closely translated as atheist or atheism. The respectful terms used to describe Jews and Christians in the Qur’an are (people of the book) stated differently (people of the bible). Every time the Qur’an says “people of the book” all Muslims know it is talking about Jews and Christians. Wise up!
Report Post »Kathleen
Posted on November 28, 2011 at 10:19pmWTF is going on with these people???? How many sick *#&% are there in the world today. Can’t they just have normal relationships. Where does this come from? Is it power? Is it the pure evilness of it that is the allure? The world is going absolutely mad!!
Report Post »Latter-Day-Soldier
Posted on November 29, 2011 at 1:13amPart of the problem is that in the porn industry, it has been the latest “in thing” to look young and under-age.
Report Post »your sensei
Posted on November 29, 2011 at 10:28amLatter Day Sinner . . . So why so much porn in Utah?
Report Post »iwalkalone
Posted on November 28, 2011 at 10:19pmHe may or may not be a pedophile but he is definitely nuts doing this in public view. Must be mentally ill in several ways. Wonder what the cause of his divorce was. (dont have to be sherlock holmes to figure that one out.)
Report Post »Walkabout
Posted on November 29, 2011 at 3:22amYa, sex or money. He has a job making decent money so …
Report Post »TRONINTHEMORNING
Posted on November 28, 2011 at 10:18pmEnjoy jail, creep.
Report Post »NOT A CRAZY
Posted on November 28, 2011 at 10:17pmProf Grant Smith…now known as Bubba-bait.
Report Post »Anti_Spock
Posted on November 28, 2011 at 10:12pmAnother fine example of what it means to be a liberal, or democrat.
Report Post »perry1980
Posted on November 28, 2011 at 10:09pmuniversity professor……i bet he is a liberal and obummer supporter
Report Post »Mtroom
Posted on November 28, 2011 at 10:08pmWOW…no there’s a surprise.
Report Post »Mtroom
Posted on November 28, 2011 at 10:13pmNow*
Report Post »