Father Of Utah Man Accused Of Watching Porn On Plane Is 'Shocked About The Charges'
Nov. 28 2011, Published 1:00 p.m. ET
By Debbie Emery - RadarOnline.com Reporter
After Dr. Grant Smith pleaded not guilty on Monday to charges that he watched child pornography on a plane, his father talked exclusively to RadarOnline.com about the scandal that has rocked their family.
"I am about shocked the charges that are brought against him," the University of Utah science professor's dad, Bruce Smith, told us.
As RadarOnline.com previously reported, Dr. Smith was arrested on a charge of child pornography possession Saturday by authorities in Massachusetts immediately after his Utah-to-Boston flight landed at Logan Airport. He was held in lieu of $75,000 cash bail Monday.
Despite the shocking charges, his father is standing by his son and supporting his plea of innocence.
"I don’t think he is guilty. I’m not sure what they (the charges) are I haven’t talked to him, but I am expecting a call soon," Smith told RadarOnline.com.
During Monday's proceedings, prosecutor Erik Bennett said that a fellow passenger in first class on Smith’s flight number 270 saw him watching child porn movies and told flight attendants. They subsequently alerted officials and told Smith to shut his university-issued Mac Book.
After he was told to shut the computer, Smith tried to delete the pictures -- reportedly of girls between 6 and 10 years old -- according to Bennett. When his laptop was confiscated after the flight touched down, police found "disturbing images of child pornography,” State Police spokesman David Procopio said.
Smith -- a married 47-year-old father-of-two from Cottonwood Heights, Utah -- was reportedly traveling to Boston for a work-related function. He's been placed on administrative leave pending results of the ensuing investigation.
University officials said Smith, a 14-year employee of the academic institution, will be terminated if the accusations are true.
A pretrial hearing is slated for December 27.
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