A Spokane man accused of possessing child sexual abuse material is expected to stand trial early next year.

Chadlen D. Smith, 36, is charged with sexual exploitation of a child by possession of sexually exploitative material, a felony.

He is also charged with distribution/exhibition of obscene material, a misdemeanor.

Smith was arrested in January for allegedly stalking a Post Falls Police Department employee. He was later arrested again and charged with violating a protection order.

Electronics in Smith’s possession at the time of his arrest were seized as possible evidence in the stalking case, according to court documents.

Forensic examination of the devices allegedly yielded images of nude children, as well as other photos of children that did not qualify as sexually exploitative material.

Police arrested Smith on Jan. 11 for suspicion of sexual exploitation of a minor.

He was released from jail the following day, however, as charges had not yet been filed.

A warrant for Smith’s arrest was issued Jan. 22. He was arrested Jan. 29 and posted $50,000 bail.

Post Falls Police Detective Neil Uhrig testified at a preliminary hearing in April that Smith said he used the internet to search for photos of children that were nude but “not illegal.”

Smith reportedly has a prior felony conviction of injury to a child stemming from a 2009 lewd conduct with a minor case.

After repeated delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a jury trial in the case is scheduled to begin Feb. 22.

Sexual exploitation of a child by possession of sexually exploitative material is punishable by a maximum of 10 years in prison.