Norfolk, Va. - David Smith pleaded guilty to 10 charges of possession of child pornography in Norfolk Circuit Court, Wednesday morning.
Smith formerly served as pastor at Trinity Lutheran church and school for two years.
Smith was arrested in late March. At that time, police say, he admitted to having child porn.
He's been out on bond since early April and banned from seeing his kids and using a computer. He was also banned from Trinity Lutheran church.
The crimes do not involve anyone from the church or school. And, investigators say there was no evidence Smith had sexual contact with any child.
However, a circuit court judge still denied him supervised visits with his children, until he gets a recommendation from his probation officer.
During Monday's hearing the judge did grant part of a motion at the request of Smith’s attorney, Howard Copeland. It allows Smith to enter a residential treatment center for six to eight weeks. Smith will also undergo a psychosexual evaluation before his sentencing scheduled for the end of September.
Copeland says Smith’s guilty pleas are not part of any kind of deal with the Commonwealth Attorney.
“There's no deal. That's just straight up pre-sentence report and sentencing based on what Judge Poston determines to be the appropriate sentence,” explains Copeland.
Smith faces up to 50 years in jail.
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