Victor Smith was handed the sentence for downloading illegal images at the public library last year. Smith used his personal laptop to collect illegal images using the free WiFi at the library. His arrest has led to many changes including more limited access to these file sharing websites.
According to detectives, Victor Smith was seated at a table last July with a clear view of the children's center. He was positioned in a way where he could see his computer screen but it was obstructed from others.
Fresno County Sheriff's investigators arrested Smith nearly a year ago at the central library in Downtown Fresno while he was collecting child pornography. The disturbing arrest prompted immediate changes at the branch.
County Librarian Laurel Prysiazny said, "We've also changed some of our furniture, so you can no longer have your back to the wall and not be monitored, because we do have security that patrols throughout the facility and looks for those types of situations."
Investigators say the 59 year old also confessed to the crime. Evidence was taken from his computer and also at the homeless encampment where Smith lived.
In addition to eight years in prison, the federal judge also ordered Smith to pay $5,000.00 in restitution to one of the children who appeared in five of the images he received.
The county librarian says she has received many tips from deputies about how to tighten security, but monitoring WiFi is more of a challenge.
Prysiazny explained, "The file to file sharing that this gentleman was caught using is something that's very difficult because literally they are coming in and just using our connection to go back up again so it's not that easy to govern."
Even though the library has always had filters in place that block some internet websites, now, even more are inaccessible.
Smith did not speak about the crimes during sentencing, but did say he did not wish to take his court paperwork to his cell because he didn't want his podmates to have access to the information it contained.