A 31-year-old man from Mohave Valley, Arizona, has been sentenced to 35 years in federal prison for a string of horrific crimes committed against his step-children.
Matthew Smith, 31, pleaded guilty on August 15, 2013, to second-degree murder, child abuse, and assault resulting in serious bodily injury.
The crimes took place between July 8 and July 11, 2012, on the Fort Mojave Indian reservation, where Smith lived with his then-step-children.
Smith punched one of his step-children in the abdomen and assaulted the child multiple times, causing a fatal injury that resulted in the child’s death due to multiple blunt force traumas and other injuries.
During the same period, Smith assaulted another of his step-children, leaving the child for approximately two days without food or water, resulting in significant permanent injuries.
The investigation into Smith’s crimes also revealed that he had assaulted another of his children, causing a broken arm.
U.S. District Judge Paul G. Rosenblatt handed down the 35-year prison sentence, which will be followed by five years of supervised release.
Smith was also ordered to pay $250,193 in restitution to his victims’ families.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Fort Mojave Police Department, with Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jennifer E. Green and Sharon K. Sexton handling the prosecution.
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Key Facts
- State: Arizona
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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