Former Youth Coordinator Sentenced for Sexually Abusing Teen Boys

The Wowt
January 7, 2013

http://www.wowt.com/news/headlines/Former-Youth-Coordinator-Sentenced-For-Sexually-Abuse-Teen-Boys-185938842.html?ref=842


A Missouri man who worked with youth at a Harlan, Iowa church in the late 90's has been sentenced for sexually abusing boys in Pottawattamie County during that time period.

Sixty-eight-year-old Bob Ervin Smith was sentenced by Judge Steensland in Pottawattamie County Court on Monday to 20 years in prison for 3 counts of 3rd degree sexual abuse and one count of indecent contact with a child. It's up to the parole board as to whether or not he'll serve the full sentence.

According to an affidavit acquired by Channel 6 News, the victim was 12-years-old going into the 7th grade in 1998. That's when Smith took him away from the town of Harlan, Iowa to go on a fishing trip.

The affidavit notes Smith was the youth coordinator at the First Baptist Church in Harlan back in 1998.

Smith allegedly took the victim to a Council Bluffs motel and molested him.

Later in the affidavit more evidence against Smith comes from his own family.

A male family member claims Smith had a history of sexual problems and that Smith molested him as well as two of his brothers when they were growing up in Harlan. The alleged victim says Smith molested them several times over a period of several years from early childhood until their mid teens.

It's up to the parole board as to whether or not Smith will serve the full 20 year sentence.