Pike County jury recommends 212-year sentence for Hannibal man found guilty for sex crimes with child

BOWLING GREEN, Mo. — A Pike County jury recommended a sentence of 212 years plus a life sentence of imprisonment for Hannibal man who was found guilty Tuesday of multiple sexual crimes involving a child.

Gary H. Smith Jr. was found guilty of four counts of statutory sodomy in the first degree, two counts of sexual misconduct involving a child, one count of incest and one count of child molestation in the first degree. 

During a two-day trial, the jury heard testimony from the child victim, who was under the age of 12 at the time of the abuse, along with testimony from other family members, law enforcement, a forensic child interviewer and a prior victim of the defendant who provided testimony regarding her own abuse at the hands of the defendant. 

The crimes were committed from 2013 to 2016 when Smith was living in Bowling Green. He was living in Kinderhook, Ill., at the time he was arrested. His most recent address was Hannibal.

The jury deliberated for approximately 50 minutes on the eight counts before returning all guilty verdicts. The sentencing phase of the trial then was held. Judge James D. Beck, who presided over the trial, will determine final sentencing on June 3.

The case was tried by Pike County Prosecuting Attorney Alex Ellison.

Smith pled guilty to aggravated criminal sexual abuse of a family member under the age of 18 in Pike County, Ill., in March 2021. He was sentenced to three months and four years in the Illinois Department of Corrections. Four Class X felonies of predatory criminal sexual assault of a victim under the age of 13 were dismissed nolle prosequi — a formal entry of record by the prosecuting attorney who declares he or she is unwilling to prosecute a case.