Boone County man arrested, accused of possessing child pornography

UPDATE 5:10 pm: A spokesperson for Columbia Public Schools confirms the bus driver is hired through STA, but she says he did serve in the CPS school district.

The spokesperson says Smith will not be returning to the CPS district.

UPDATE: A source says Smith was employed by Student Transportation of America and was a bus driver.

ORIGINAL STORY: On Thursday, Boone County deputies arrested Dakota Smith, 21, who is accused of possessing child pornography.

Deputies said the investigation began in July, when the Sheriff’s Department Cyber Crimes Task Force received a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

Deputies said the tip reported a subject thought to be in Boone County had uploaded child pornography to social media.

The Cyber Crimes Task Force investigation identified the social media account holder as Dakota Smith, who was living in Columbia.

Deputies said the pornography files being uploaded to the account were pictures of young boys indecently exposed.

On Tuesday, the investigator attempted to make contact with Smith at his residence, but learned he was not there. On Wednesday, Smith sought out the investigator at the Sheriff’s Department to speak about the investigation.

Deputies said Smith’s cellphone was seized and child pornography was found on it.

Smith was arrested. He faces a possible charge of child pornography.