Sheridan Man Arraigned on Four Counts of Sexual Exploitation of a Minor

An arraignment hearing was held Thursday in Fourth Judicial District Court in Sheridan for 32-year-old Kyle Smith for allegedly possessing and distributing child pornography. Smith pleaded not guilty to four counts of sexual exploitation of a minor. Two of the charges are for possession of child pornography and two of the charges are for distribution of child pornography. The alleged crimes occurred on February 5, 2022 and April 13, 2022. District Court Judge Darci Phillips scheduled a four day #5 stack jury trial for March 13 and set a pretrial conference for February 14 at 10:30 am. If convicted on all four counts, Smith faces up to 44 years in prison and fines of up to $40,000.

Agents with the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation’s Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force and Northeast Enforcement Team, along with the Sheridan Police Department and the Sheridan County Sheriff’s Office arrested Smith on September 14. Smith’s arrest was the result of a month’s long investigation by Wyoming DCI’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and the Mansfield, Texas Police Department.

Following the arraignment hearing, a separate probation revocation hearing was held where Smith admitted to violating terms of his probation for being in possession of a cellular phone. Smith was on probation because he was convicted of second degree sexual abuse of a minor in 2016. Judge Phillips revoked Smith’s probation and said a disposition hearing on the probation revocation will be scheduled at another time.