Milana Doné
RACINE — A 30-year-old Racine man pleaded not guilty Wednesday to charges regarding sexual assault of a child and child pornography.
Nelson Roberts-Smith is facing one count of repeated sexual assault of the same child (at least three violations of first degree sexual assault), one count of incest with child, four counts of child sexual exploitation by videoing or recording, four counts of child exploitation by producing or performing and 15 counts of child pornography possession.
Roberts-Smith originally was charged with one count of repeated sexual assault of a child and one count of incest, but the criminal complaint was amended in June.
According to the complaint, Roberts-Smith also is under federal investigation because of “the international dissemination of child pornography and the production of child pornography.”
The complaint states that the Racine County Sheriff’s Office began working with the Department of Homeland Security on June 4 after Homeland Security Investigations Milwaukee received a tip from Dutch authorities regarding the production and distribution of child pornography through a messaging app.
According to the complaint, a Dutch investigator acting as a confidential informant communicated with a user, “Fantastic,” later identified as Roberts-Smith.
The complaint states that the informant was sent a video that reportedly shows Roberts-Smith sexually assaulting a young child.
Shortly before 7 p.m. on June 4, officers conducted a traffic stop during which Roberts-Smith was arrested and his phone was seized. He allegedly told officers he knew of Teleguard but declined to provide more information.
When searching Roberts-Smith’s phone, investigators reportedly found the same video that was sent to the informant through the messaging app.
Investigators also reportedly found multiple chats — one with more than 600 members — in which Roberts-Smith allegedly discussed the abuse and sent child pornography to other users.
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