Federal prosecutors and the public defender representing an accused sexual predator told a judge on Friday they are finalizing a plea agreement. The case involves a longstanding staffer at the Charlotte Amalie High School who allegedly used his position of trust as an athletic coach to victimize students.
Chief District Court Judge Robert Molloy held a status hearing in the case of USA vs. Alfredo Bruce Smith a few weeks before a scheduled Sept. 11 trial date. Lawyers from the U.S. Attorney’s Office on St. Thomas filed a motion asking for a delay.
Given more time, they said, they can complete the terms of a deal that would result in Smith admitting guilt to a series of criminal charges. Court documents allege the disgraced high school track coach either molested, coerced or raped a dozen male students between 2015 and 2021.
The defendant is also accused of producing child pornography during some of the encounters, receiving pornographic images from others and sending images to others.
According to information contained in the indictment filed in District Court on Aug. 29, 2022, at least two of Smith’s alleged victims were as young as 13.
Federal public defender Matthew Campbell described the steps that still have to be taken. “In order to get a fully executed plea agreement, there’s a bit of the language we need to get resolved. And then I have to get it signed by Mr. Smith,” Campbell said Friday.
Molloy granted a continuance for the Sept. 11 trial date and told Campbell and the prosecutors their work towards obtaining an admission of guilt was a goal worth waiting for.
Finalization may take up to a week, Campbell said. Assistant U.S. Attorney Everard Potter also spoke in favor of the pending agreement.
The defendant did not appear in court for the status hearing and remains in custody at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Puerto Rico.
