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MMA fighter accused of exposing himself to women in Virginia Beach found guilty on all charges

Posted at 9:52 AM, Sep 26, 2018
and last updated 2018-09-27 11:59:08-04

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. - The man who was accused of exposing himself at the Landstown Shopping Center in Virginia Beach was found guilty Wednesday on all 10 charges he was facing.

The charges against 24-year-old Imani Immanuel Smith of Virginia Beach include six counts of indecent exposure and four counts of masturbation or simulated in public, police said.

He will serve three years and a few months behind bars. His lawyer said they will appeal.

24-year-old Imani Immanuel Smith

News 3 was in the courtroom for the trial. His family left court visibly upset.

Smith's brother admits the MMA fighter has been in trouble in the past but says they have the wrong guy.

Six women testified about different exposing situations in court on Wednesday. One of the women is a former cop.

Authorities previously said the suspect, seen sitting in a vehicle, would summon women passing by to "ask for directions." Officials said when the victim approached the vehicle, the suspect exposed himself while performing a sexual act.

Police identified Smith when several people called to report similar incidents after news coverage.

News 3 spoke to Smith from behind bars last spring. The MMA fighter said he did not commit the crime.

Smith said it is a case of mistaken identity and added he was in another city when the incident happened.

According to prosecutors, several witnesses picked Smith out of a photo lineup and also provided a partial license plate that matches a vehicle Smith drives. The defense brought up discrepancies between the witnesses' description of the suspect and the vehicle he was in, but after an argument that Smith was the only man in the lineup who had tattoos, the judge sided with the prosecution.

A judge granted Smith a $50,000 bond. When out of jail, Smith has to stay away from the Landstown Commons Shopping Center.