WILMINGTON — A Florida man has been convicted of three counts of felony child abuse committing a sexual act against a minor and taking indecent liberties with children for crimes committed more than 10-years ago in Wilmington.
“Timothy Lee Smith, age 58 of West Palm Beach, FL, pled guilty on Thursday to three counts of felony child abuse … The defendant sexually abused a family member for years when the victim was a child, between the ages of 5 and 15. The crimes were reported to the New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office when the victim was an adult; it is very common in cases of child sexual abuse for victims to delay disclosure until adulthood. The victim learned that in 2015 the defendant was living in a home that gave him access to other young children and was concerned for their safety, which led her to report her years of abuse at the hands of the defendant,” according to a press release from District Attorney Ben David.
Smith will spend 60-99 months in prison and will be required to register as a sex offender for 30-years after his release from custody.