By-Line: Tonya Woodworth, Director of Public Information, FCSO
On Friday, June 27, 2025, the FCSO Fugitive Unit arrested Gregory Smith, 45, of Palm Coast, at his workplace in Bunnell, following an extensive investigation that uncovered years of repeated sexual abuse of a child spanning several years.
The investigation into Smith began after the victim’s mother contacted law enforcement on June 19 to report the abuse, stating that after confronting Smith, he admitted to all of the allegations and described in great detail how he performed oral sex on the victim multiple times since the abuse began.
According to the victim, Smith engaged in repeated acts of sexual abuse, including performing and receiving oral sex, anal sex, and genital touching. The victim told detectives that these incidents occurred several times a week over two to three years.
Through investigative means, detectives were able to corroborate the victim’s and the mother’s statements and subsequently obtained a warrant for Smith’s arrest. During an interview with detectives, Smith admitted to engaging in oral sex with the victim between 2013 and 2019.
“This is heartbreaking. This pervert took this child’s innocence away. No child should ever be a victim of sexual abuse—especially at the hands of someone in a position of authority and trust,” said Sheriff Rick Staly. “It took a lot of bravery for this young victim to come forward. Our focus now is to provide support for the victim and the victim’s family so they may find justice and healing as they work through this traumatic experience, and for this dirtbag to spend the rest of his life in prison.”
Smith—who has a prior criminal history of burglary, drug possession, and fraud—is facing additional charges, as the investigation continues by detectives.
“This was a true collaborative effort between members of our Community Policing Division, Real-Time Crime Center, Victim Advocates, Major Case Unit, P.A.C.E. Unit, and Fugitive Unit to quickly apprehend this dangerous pervert and put him behind bars where he belongs,” Sheriff Staly added.
Smith was arrested on five counts of sexual battery by familial or custodial authority on a victim 12 to 18 years of age and two counts of lewd and lascivious molestation on a victim 12 to 16 years of age. He was transported to the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility, where he is being held without bond.
Gregory Smith (Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility mugshot)
