A former Milton Union High School principal was sentenced Monday, Jan. 25, to two years in prison for child pornography related convictions that followed a Troy police investigation last fall.

Allen Smith, 68, of West Milton, who most recently worked for the Miami County Educational Service Center, was sentenced in county Common Pleas Court.

He pleaded no contest and was found guilty in November to two counts of illegal use of a minor in nudity-oriented material and five counts of pandering obscenity.

Troy police said the investigation began when the mother of a 14-year-old girl came to them about electronic conversations her daughter had with another person. The girl turned to her mother when she grew concerned about the direction of the conversations. A detective continued the conversations with Smith, who later agreed to meet at a Troy park. When Smith arrived, he was met by the detective, not a young girl.

Searches of Smith’s phone and other electronic devices led to the charges.

In court Monday, defense lawyer Jose Lopez said Smith was well known in the West Milton community. “This is an individual with a lifetime of achievement,”

Lopez said. He pointed to Smith’s accomplishments in teaching, coaching, in community organizations and in his church. The situation, Lopez said, “Has shaken him to the core.”

Smith said he took full responsibility for his actions. He said he was wrong for starting the conversation with the girl and apologized for “any and all ill effects.”

Smith said he knew he had let many people down and asked for mercy from the court so he could begin “my full recovery as soon as possible.”

County Prosecutor Tony Kendell said Smith crossed a line and invaded the lives of the community’s most valuable assets, its children. Because of the nature of the offenses, he asked for prison time for Smith.

Gee said the illegal use of a minor charge carried a presumption of prison time unless it could be shown a community control sentence could be given while protecting the public and not demeaning the seriousness of the offenses.

The judge said Smith’s case did not meet those requirements. Among other factors he pointed to Smith’s “numerous chats” with girls including instructing them to take inappropriate photos, his possession of videos of young children in sexual acts and his release from treatment for sex addiction in 2014 for failing to follow treatment rules.

The 14-year-old girl’s mother said following sentencing that she felt that “justice was done” and that she hoped Smith would get counseling and help he needed.

“Kids need to make sure they know who they are talking to,” the mother said. “I would encourage kids to communicate with their parents. If something seems out of place, go to someone … He preyed on the most innocent in our society.”

Lopez said he knew Smith including when Lopez served on the Milton-Union Schools Board of Education. “This is a heartbreaking case for all involved,” Lopez said.

Smith was classified as a Tier II sex offender, requiring him, once released from prison, to register his address in the county where he resides every 180 days for 25 years.