A North Hollywood man who advertised himself as a babysitter and children’s snowboard instructor in online marketplaces throughout Los Angeles County is scheduled to be arraigned Monday on lewd act charges involving a child who was in his care between April 2021 and February 2022, the District Attorney’s Office announced Friday.
Vincent Everette Smith Jr., 28, is set to appear in a downtown Los Angeles courtroom on two felony counts of lewd acts upon a child under age 14, according to the District Attorney’s Office.
The criminal complaint also claims the defendant befriended the alleged victim before the offenses and had substantial sexual conduct with the child, and that the crimes involve tying or binding.
Smith was arrested Dec. 9 by Torrance police and has remained behind bars since then, jail records show.
He was ordered to remain jailed without bail at the prosecution’s request at his initial court appearance Dec. 11, according to the District Attorney’s Office, which stated it believes there may be additional victims.
“Babysitting, unfortunately, represents an ideal opportunity for child predators,” District Attorney Nathan Hochman said in a statement announcing the charges. “I urge anyone with any information about the defendant or other suspected child abusers to come forward. My office will seek maximum sentences against child sex predators for their sickening crimes.”