Another FBI employee arrested on suspicion of sexually abusing multiple children

On August 24, an FBI employee was arrested at his home in Stansbury Park, Utah, and booked into the Tooele County jail on four counts of aggravated sex abuse of a child. Robert Alexander Smith was also charged with four misdemeanor counts of lewdness involving a child and two misdemeanor counts of lewdness.

Court documents indicated that the FBI employee was arrested after a young girl reported to her mother on June 8 that Smith had touched her sexually on a number of occasions in 2020.

The mother reportedly also asked her 17-year-old stepdaughter, 14-year-old daughter, 14-year-old stepdaughter, and 12-year-old daughter whether they too had experienced "very uncomfortable" encounters with Smith, all of whom first responded by crying.

The Tooele County sheriff’s office conducted an investigation into allegations that Smith had abused several young girls. KSLTV reported that up to five minors, ranging from preteen to high-school-aged girls, were interviewed at a Children's Advocacy Center, all of whom reported inappropriate touching. Some accused Smith of genital touching.

Smith is said to have "occupied a position of special trust as it pertains to the victims in this case."

The FBI confirmed that Robert Alexander Smith is an employee, but provided no information other than the fact that the incident has been referred to the agency's Internal Affairs Section.

If convicted of this first-degree felony, 65-year-old Robert Alexander Smith could face anywhere from five years to life in prison.

Smith is not the first FBI employee in recent months to have been charged for child abuse or predation on a minor.

On February 10, 52-year-old FBI Agent David Lee Harris was indicted by a grand jury in Texas for indecency with a child. His alleged crimes were not limited to Texas, however.

In Louisiana, where a judge in Ascension Parish deemed him a "threat to the public," Harris was charged with aggravated crimes against nature and indecent behavior with a juvenile. Harris was also charged for victimizing a 14-year-old girl on St. George Island, Florida, and faces additional charges including sexual battery, attempted rape, and witness intimidation.

KLTV reported that Harris was accused, in one instance, of exposing himself to a 13-year-old girl who he then lay on top of. The Franklin County sheriff's office in Florida said that Harris' admission of this exploit, along with a written indication that he preferred underage females, was among the records obtained from Harris' government-issued electronic devices.

Harris led a regional division of the FBI that investigates online crimes against children until his arrest in July 2021.