Bibb teacher arrested, charged with numerous counts of child porn possession

A Central High School special education teacher was arrested Friday after Homeland Security investigators found videos of child pornography on a personal computer that allegedly belongs to him.

Robert Anthony Smith was charged with 11 counts of felony sexual exploitation of children, according to a Bibb County sheriff’s arrest warrant.

The 43-year-old was placed on administrative leave by the Bibb County school district early Friday when school officials were notified of the investigation, school district spokeswoman Stephanie Hartley said in an email.

Smith was booked at the Bibb County jail about 10:15 a.m., where he remained with no bond late Friday.

In a warrant for his arrest filed in Bibb County Magistrate Court, Bibb County sheriff’s Sgt. Tania Clausen testified that Smith had at least 11 videos containing child pornography on a personal computer. The videos included underage boys and girls having sex with other boys and girls and also with adult men, the warrant said. Several videos contained footage of underage girls performing sex acts on a male adult.

So far, investigators have found no evidence of inappropriate material on Smith’s district-issued laptop, Hartley said.

“The district does not have any knowledge of any inappropriate conduct occurring at school; however, we will continue to remain in contact with the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office to monitor the investigation as details unfold,” Hartley said. “We want to reassure parents and stakeholders that safety is one of our top priorities, and we will do everything possible to ensure each of our schools is a safe place for all students and staff.”

Smith, who lives in Macon, worked as a substitute teacher for the Bibb school district from 2012-2016 before becoming a full-time teacher last year.

This story was originally published December 1, 2017 at 4:28 PM with the headline "Bibb teacher arrested, charged with numerous counts of child porn possession."