Tazewell Tennessee Man Pleads Guilty to Sex Charges Involving 4-year-old Child - Sentenced
- WRIL-FM
- 2 hours ago
- 1 min read
From WRIL - The Big One -
As we previously reported in 2023, Claiborne County officers were dispatched to a Paul Smith Lane residence in New Tazewell in regard to a report of child sexual abuse.
Deputy Cindy O'Mary spoke with the aunt of a 4-year-old female victim who stated she discovered multiple "exploitive" images of her niece on her phone which had been used on several occasions by 36-year-old Monroe Patton Smith of Tazewell.
After consent to search the phone was given by the child's aunt, it was confirmed that the "patently offensive" images depicted Smith and the nude child engaging in sexual activity.
Upon deputies arrival at the residence, Smith fled the scene, but was apprehended and lodged in the Claiborne County Jail initally charged with Sexual Exploitation of a Minor.
He was later indicted and given additional charges of Rape of a Child and Aggravated -Sexual Battery.
On March 30, 2026, Smith plead guilty to all three counts. He was sentenced to (45) forty-five years for (3) three counts of Rape of a child, (12) twelve years for (50) fifty counts of Especially Aggravated Sexual Exploitation of a Minor, and (12) twelve years for (6) six counts of Aggravated Sexual Battery. All sentences are to run concurrent at 100%. Upon his release he will be on the sex offender registry and under supervision for life.