Casper Man Gets At Least 48 Years for Raping Vulnerable Adults, Girl
Trae Derik Smith will spend at least 48 years in prison for the sexual abuse of two vulnerable adults and the rape of a 15-old-girl, according to the sentence handed down by Natrona County District Court Judge Catherine Wilking on Thursday.
The parents of one of the vulnerable adults told Wilking that they and their disabled daughter trusted Smith and he violated that trust.
"You have hurt more people than you realize," the father said. "I hope you die in prison."
The girl, accompanied by her mother, said she has severe trust issues but is getting stronger.
Smith's mother told Wilking that Trae is not capable of these crimes. "I know that my son did not do these things."
His father apologized for his son's behavior and attributed it to his drug addiction.
Smith also spoke, and asked Wilking for a second chance and said he was sorry for what happened to the victims.
Wilking complimented the parents of the vulnerable adult, and girl and her mother for the strength they are gaining. "This is some of the most moving testimony I have heard."
While she acknowledged Smith's apology, Wilking added that he simply did not recognize the impact of his actions, such as a photo he took of one of the vulnerable adults he assaulted.
Wilking sentenced Smith to an eight- to 10-year prison term for the first count, 40 to 50 years for the second count, and 18 to 20 years for the third count. The second and third sentences will run concurrently, and those two will run consecutively to the first count, she said.
In August, Smith pleaded guilty to abuse by sexual touching of a brain-injured vulnerable adult and one count of first-degree sexual assault of a developmentally-disabled adult.
Smith, now 27, also entered an Alford plea -- meaning he did not admit guilt but did concede that the prosecution has sufficient evidence to obtain a conviction, had the case gone to trial -- to second-degree sexual abuse of a minor.
According to an affidavit of probable cause, Casper police officers began investigating the case in early January after a 15-year-old girl told her mother that Smith had raped her.
Police obtained a search warrant and, in looking through the SD cards in Smith's cell phone, found video of a person sexually assaulting disabled women.
The woman who reported the assaults of the girl told a detective that Smith worked at a local care facility, the name of which is redacted from the affidavit.
On Feb. 15, the detective executed a search warrant on Smith's employment records at the business, and showed the video to management staff who identified the mentally disabled women as their clients.
A week later, Smith and his girlfriend were arrested for child endangerment with methamphetamine.