Jacksonville Man Faces Life for Sexual Battery, Sex Act on a Minor

State Attorney Melissa Nelson announces that Robert Lee Smith, 60, of Jacksonville, was found guilty by a jury of Sexual Battery, Unlawful Sexual Activity with Certain Minors, and Showing Obscene Materials to Minors. Smith now faces a maximum of Life in Florida State Prison. A sentencing hearing is scheduled before the Honorable Russell L. Healey on May 14, 2018.

In late 2016, Smith moved in with the minor victim, the victim’s mother, and the mother’s boyfriend. The victim is intellectually disabled. Smith took advantage of the victim’s intellectual disabilities by sexually abusing the victim and showing them pornographic material. The victim used their phone to record the crimes. The victim’s mother later found the videos and contacted authorities — a subsequent investigation led to the arrest of Smith, a 10-time convicted felon.

The case was investigated by Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and was prosecuted by Assistant State Attorneys Rachel Algee and Amanda Newman.