New York man charged after Cedar Rapids officer posed as teen

He faces sexual exploitation charges after online exchanges

Jan. 17, 2025 12:04 pm, Updated: Jan. 20, 2025 1:20 pm

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CEDAR RAPIDS — A New York man was arrested this month in Cedar Rapids on charges that he sent inappropriate images to a person he believed was 14 years old.

Robert Smith, 44, of Groveland, N.Y., is charged with sexual exploitation of a minor, grooming and phone dissemination of obscene material to minors.

According to a criminal complaint, Smith contacted a spoof profile that a Cedar Rapids police officer was operating on a dating website. He began texting with the officer, who was posing as a 14 year old girl.

Smith sent the officer sexual pictures and videos, and asked the fake teen to send him similar pictures. He also asked the spoof profile to be his girlfriend and discussed sexual acts he would like to perform, the complaint states.

The conversation happened in August 20204 and a warrant for Smith’s arrest was filed in November. He was taken into custody Jan. 4 and had a first appearance in court Jan. 5. He is being held on a cash-only $25,000 bail.

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