A shackled 30-year-old Christopher Joseph Houston Smith, of Nederland, made his initial appearance in federal court Tuesday, appearing in front of U.S. Magistrate Christine L Stetson at the Jack Brooks Federal Courthouse in Beaumont. The federal charge against Smith is distribution of child pornography. On Tuesday, Smith was represented by Ryan Lee Matuska in the courtroom. Smith told Judge Stetson that he will retain Beaumont Attorney Ryan Gertz moving forward. The federal charge against Smith carries a prison term of five to 20 years. However, if he has a previous conviction, he faces 15-40 years. Judge Stetson set an arraignment date of August 27, 2026 at 2:30 in her courtroom. The Government was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Lee on Tuesday. Assistant U.S. Attorney Rachel Grove will be the prosecutor during the trial. On the state level, Smith was indicted by a Jefferson County grand jury in April for possession of child pornography. He was arrested in March at his home on 39th Street in Nederland, after a cyber tip lead investigators to Smith, whose Kik messenger contained up to 50 images of child pornography. 31 videos depicted children being sexually assaulted, according to the state indictment. Smith passed out appearing in Judge John Stevens courtroom at the Jefferson County on April 9, 2026 during his initial appearance in state court. His state bond is $500,000. He is being held without bond on the federal charge pending his upcoming arraignment.
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