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PROVO — A former corrections officer admitted in court on Monday to soliciting oral sex from a person he believed to be a 13-year-old girl and going to a prearranged meeting with her on Nov. 2, 2021.
That person was actually an undercover officer with the Orem Police Department, charging documents say.
Victor D. Smith, 56, of Eagle Mountain, pleaded guilty in 4th District Court to attempted sodomy on a child, a first-degree felony, and enticing a minor over the internet or text, a second-degree felony. He pleaded guilty to the charges as they were filed rather than as part of a plea deal.
Charging documents said he had sexually explicit conversations with the undercover officer and also indicated he had similar conversations with young girls previously.
The Utah Department of Corrections placed him on administrative leave days after the incident. Smith had worked with the department for 23 years prior to his arrest and was a captain assigned to the training division.
Now that Smith has pleaded guilty, Judge Derek Pullan ordered him to report to Adult Probation and Parole within 48 hours, and to report to Utah County Jail on Dec. 27.
Smith was arrested on Nov. 8, 2021, and the state requested a no-bail hold. After a hearing on Nov. 30, 2021, however, Pullan ordered Smith's release without any requirement to post bail.
The release order contained multiple conditions. Smith was prohibited from having contact or being in the same place with anyone under 18, could not live in a residence with internet access, and could not have access to any electronic devices or go to a place that offers internet access.
He was also ordered to give his attorney any badges or items that could indicate he was a law enforcement officer, as well as his passport.
Smith will be sentenced for the charges on Feb. 28.
