Estimated read time: Less than a minute
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
KANAB, Utah (AP) -- A former Bureau of Land Management field manager has entered a not guilty plea to sexual abuse charges.
Rex Lee Smart entered the plea Thursday in Kanab's 6th District Court. A trial is set for Sept. 28.
Smart was charged in December 2007 with seven counts of sexual abuse of a child, two counts of sodomy on a child and one count of rape of a child, all first-degree felonies. Each charge carries a possible maximum penalty of life in prison.
Kane County prosecutors contend Smart abused a 9-year-old girl between May 15 and June 15, 2005 and again in September 2006. An investigation began after an anonymous tip to the Division of Child and Family Services.
After being arrested Smart, a 25-year veteran of the BLM, has been free on $125,000 bond.
------
Information from: The Salt Lake Tribune
(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
