Austin man sentenced to supervised probation, fines, fees for engaging in sexually explicit text messaging with teen girl

An Austin man who pleaded guilty after having engaged in sexually explicit text messaging with a then 13-year-old girl in December of 2018 has been sentenced to supervised probation, plus fines and fees in Mower County District Court.

31-year old Jacob Steven Smith was convicted and sentenced Friday to five years of supervised probation and $985 in fines and fees for a felony charge of engaging in electronic communication with a child relating or describing sexual conduct.  Smith was granted a stay of imposition in the case where the defendant pleads guilty to a felony-level offense.  If he or she successfully completes their probation, the conviction will be deemed a misdemeanor.  

Smith must comply with 22 different conditions while on probation, and he first pleaded guilty to the charge in October of 2021.  A felony charge for soliciting a child to engage in sexual conduct thorugh electronic communication in the case was dismissed with Smith’s guilty plea.