Media Relations Information for March 11, 2025
Public Relations Officer – Assistant Chief John Krueger
Office: 281-842-3161
La Porte Police charge suspect with felony possession of child pornography
In November of 2024, Detectives from La Porte Police Department’s Criminal Investigations Division began to explore an allegation of child pornographic material being downloaded. Through their affiliation with the Houston Metro Internet Crimes Against Children’s Federal task force, the investigation revealed the downloads were occurring at a residence in La Porte, with the suspect identified as 35-year-old Kody Caleb Smith.
A search warrant was subsequently executed at Smith’s Seabrook residence for the purpose of locating evidence related to the unlawful downloading activity. Smith confessed to downloading the child pornographic material, and the investigation confirmed approximately 77 total files/videos of child pornography had been downloaded by Smith at his La Porte residence, prior to his moving to the Seabrook area. Smith, employed with the La Porte Independent School District, resigned the following day.
Investigators confirmed all pornographic material was taken from dark sites on the internet, therefore there is no reason to believe there are any child victims in La Porte related to this investigation. Smith was charged with three counts of 1st degree felony possession or promotion of child pornography through the Harris County District Attorney’s office on March 5, 2025, and a warrant has been issued for his arrest.
