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Convicted Child Rapist Sentenced to Life in Prison in Covington, Kentucky

A convicted child rapist, Mario Smith, has been sentenced to life in prison by a Kenton County judge on January 16, delivering justice for the heinous crimes committed against a child. Smith, 35, was found guilty on multiple counts of rape, sodomy, and sexual abuse of a child under the age of 12.

Commonwealth’s Attorney Rob Sanders made a strong statement in a press release, warning child molesters that juries do not take these horrific crimes lightly and that they will face severe consequences. This sentencing serves as a clear message that such offenders will be buried under the prison.

Back in September 2018, Covington police received a report from school personnel regarding a sexual abuse allegation made by a student. Initially, the child denied being sexually abused during an interview at the Northern Kentucky Children’s Advocacy Center. However, in May 2020, the child and her mother went to the Covington Police Department to report that the girl had been raped by her mother’s boyfriend, later identified as Mario Smith.

The victim was interviewed again at the NKY Children’s Advocacy Center, where she disclosed that Smith had been raping her for years, starting when she was only six years old. In her harrowing account, she revealed that Smith had awakened her in the middle of the night and raped her in the bathroom while her mother and sister were asleep in their bedrooms. The incident the victim described had occurred just a few nights prior to the interview.

Police collected the clothing the victim was wearing on the night of the assault for testing. Subsequently, the Kentucky State Police’s Crime Lab confirmed that the underwear tested positive for saliva, and the DNA matched that of Mario Smith.

Authorities then visited the apartment where the family resided with Smith and noticed his vehicle in the driveway. However, when they knocked on the door, nobody answered. Moments later, the mother received a text from Smith, admitting that he knew she had contacted the police and stating that he would not be returning.

A shocking detail emerged during the investigation: Smith not only fled his home but also abandoned his biological daughter, whom he shared with the victim’s mother.

After months of searching, the Cincinnati Police Department’s fugitive unit received a tip in June 2022 about Smith’s possible whereabouts in the city. Officers went to the residence and confirmed that the suspect was inside, but he refused to comply with their commands. A thorough search of the home ensued, and eventually, a K-9 unit discovered Smith hiding in a basement wall. He was apprehended and subsequently extradited back to Kentucky.

The trial for this case began in April 2023 but resulted in a hung jury as one juror did not vote for a guilty verdict. However, the case was retried on October 31, 2023, with prosecutors presenting multiple witnesses, including the victim, her mother, officers from both the Cincinnati Police Department and Covington Police Department, as well as Detective Austin Ross.

After four days of deliberation, the jury returned with a guilty verdict on all counts. They recommended that Smith be sentenced to life in prison on two counts and 50 years on the remaining charges. Smith’s defense attorney requested that the sentence be reduced to 20 years, but Kenton County Circuit Judge Patricia Summe, who presided over the trial, upheld the jury’s recommendation.

This conviction and sentencing demonstrate the commitment of the justice system to protect children and hold child rapists accountable for their abhorrent actions. It serves as a reminder that society will not tolerate such heinous crimes and will ensure that the perpetrators face the full weight of the law.

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