Booking photo for Trisden Smith (Courtesy: Cache County Jail).
LOGAN — A 23-year-old Logan man, already serving a prison sentence for molesting a child, has been given a second sentence for sexually abusing another girl. Trisden Smith is already serving a sentence of 15-years-to-life.
Smith appeared in 1st District Court Tuesday morning. He previously accepted a plea deal, pleading guilty to one count of aggravated sexual abuse of a child, a first-degree felony.
One of the victim’s father asked the court to sentence Smith to death. He noted how the defendant sexually abused the girls hundreds of times and later blamed it on drugs.
Smith spoke only briefly during Tuesday’s hearing. He told the court he was really sorry for what he had done and the people he had hurt. He said, “I am sick and I need help.”
In January, Smith was arrested the first time after investigators learned how he had raped and sodomized a young child. The crimes took place over several years. He later accepted a plea deal, pleading guilty to one count of aggravated sexual abuse of a child, a first-degree felony.
Murray said the evidence in the both cases was sickening. He noted how Smith recorded himself abusing the girls, which led investigators to discover the second victim. Both girls were close acquaintance of the defendant.
Judge Brian Cannell gave Smith the maximum sentence again, 15-years-to-life in prison, but allowed it to run concurrently with the defendant’s current sentence. He explained that it would be up to the Utah State Parole Board to determine how long Smith serves beyond the 15-year minimum. He expressed hope though that it would be closer to life because of the nature of the crimes.
will@cvradio.com