Salt Lake Tribune
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The Salt Lake Tribune
The arrest of a popular East High School track coach for an alleged Internet sex crime has left teachers, students and parents reeling with shock and dismay.
Greydon "Grady" Anthony Smith appeared before a federal magistrate Wednesday for allegedly trying to entice a 13-year-old girl - who was actually an undercover police officer - into having sex. A conviction is punishable by up to 30 years in prison.
"We're stunned - blown-away stunned," said Cindy Spence, whose daughter is on the cross-country and track teams. "Grady was nice and sweet and reliable."
Smith, 45, was arrested Saturday morning at a Layton park where he allegedly planned a sexual rendezvous with the "girl."
During a Wednesday hearing, U.S. District Judge Brooke Wells released Smith from jail but ordered him to have no Internet access and no contact with minors.
Prosecutor Karen Fojtik argued Smith should remain jailed because he was a risk to reoffend.
Fojtik pointed to 20 pieces of paper found in Smith's wallet that bore names - mostly female - as well as ages, phone numbers, addresses, physical descriptions and bra sizes. The one girl thus far contacted by investigators, however, described her on-line talk with Smith as merely "friend conversation."
The prosecutor also presented evidence that Smith was reprimanded by school officials for remarks made to a female student in 2003.
Richard L. Scott, human resources director for the Salt Lake City School District, testified Smith had told the girl she was "a little hottie." Smith also got her phone number, asked if he could call her early in the morning and offered her a ride home from an event.
Trevor Harper, captain of the cross-country team, said Smith sometimes said things to female students that "an adult should not be saying to a teenager, like, 'Don't you look hot today.' ”
Parents and students said there were about five fewer girls in the track and cross-country programs this year than last.
According to the charges, Smith's cyber-conversation with the undercover officer included explicit sexual descriptions.
Smith also described himself as a 25-year-old who looked similar to actor Michael J. Fox.
After his arrest, Smith allegedly told police he had about 130 names on his Internet instant message buddy list, and that he had met seven or eight of the people. Smith insisted that everyone he met was at least 18.
East High principal Robyn Roberts sent a letter home with students Wednesday, informing parents that Smith - who was hired five years ago - had been placed on administrative leave.
The letter also asked anyone with information that might be helpful to the investigation to contact the FBI at 801-579-1400.