Attorney arrested, fill-in judge on child porn charges

ALBERTVILLE, Ala. (AP) – Authorities say an Alabama attorney and occasional fill-in judge has been arrested on child porn charges.

Local news media reports that 52-year-old Vincent Smith is charged with four counts of possession of child pornography. Smith was arrested Friday by federal agents with the assistance from the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency.

Smith has a law practice in Albertville. He also fills-in as a judge on occasion to sometimes help rescue a regular judge from a case.

FBI spokesman Paul Daymond says Child Exploitation Task Force executed a search warrant and recovered several electronic media devices.

Smith was taken to the Marshall County Jail with a $1 million bond.

Smith’s attorney Richard Jaffe said in an email that he hopes the investigation can prove his client’s innocence.