Minersville Man Suspected of Possessing Illicit Images of Children Refuses to Waive Extradition to Florida

The Minersville man charged earlier this week who police say had thousands of illicit Images and videos of children declined to waive his extradition to Florida at a hearing before Schuylkill County Judge Bill Burke earlier this week.

Brett Smith, 34, was arrested the week prior by police in Minersville working in conjunction with the state’s Attorney General’s Office. On his mobile storage, authorities say Smith possessed more than 2,000 still images and 300 videos depicting minor girls between the ages of 3-12 in sexual situations with adult men.

Smith was picked up on a warrant from the state of Florida. Had Smith waived his extradition, he would have been sent there to face charges of possessing child pornography.

Senior Deputy Assistant District Attorney Jen Foose said that because Smith did not waive his extradition to Florida, Schuylkill County’s District Attorney’s Office must now seek a Governor’s warrant signed by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. That process is expected to take up to 90 days.

If and when authorities here receive that warrant, a formal extradition hearing will be held in Schuylkill County, where witnesses from Florida will have to testify to the fact that Smith is wanted on these charges there, Foose said.

Smith is charged with 20 counts of possession of child sexual abuse material, a third-degree felony. He was arraigned before District Magistrate Judge AJ Serina earlier this week and held on $300,000 bail, according to court records. However, at his County hearing, it was stated that Smith’s bail is $250,000. Bail hasn’t been posted and Smith remains in Schuylkill County Prison.

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