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Hearing postponed in child porn case

KAYE THORNBRUGH | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 5 years, 6 months AGO
by KAYE THORNBRUGH
Kaye Thornbrugh is a second-generation Kootenai County resident who has been with the Coeur d’Alene Press for six years. She primarily covers Kootenai County’s government, as well as law enforcement, the legal system and North Idaho College. | March 20, 2021 1:00 AM

COEUR d’ALENE — A Spokane man accused of possessing child porn is expected to be back in court next month.

Chadlen D. Smith, 36, is charged with sexual exploitation of a child by possession of sexually exploitive material, a felony, and 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 multiple images of nude infants and toddlers.

A warrant for Smith’s arrest was issued Jan. 22. He was arrested Jan. 29.

Judge James Stow ordered that Smith be held on $50,000 bail, which Smith posted.

A preliminary hearing in the case scheduled for today was vacated, as discovery is ongoing.

The hearing is now scheduled for April 8.

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

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