A former Cumberland County Public Schools science teacher who was facing 58 sex crime charges appears to have received no jail time.

Last March, William Landon Smith was arrested and charged with 27 counts of first-degree sexual exploitation of a minor, 28 counts of indecent liberties with a student, and one count of peeping involving a secretly installed imaging device used to arouse or gratify sexual desire.

According to sex offender records, Smith was required to register for a minimum of ten years and was only sentenced to 36 months probation after being convicted on Aug. 2 on what appears to be one count of taking indecent liberties with a minor and two counts of second degree sexual exploitation of a minor – distributing/transmitting sexual material.

WILLIAM LANDON SMITH – SEX OFFENDER REGISTRY

WILLIAM LANDON SMITH – SEX OFFENDER REGISTRY

Smith had been a science teacher at Cape Fear High School from Aug. 8, 2018, through Jan. 28, 2022, at which time he resigned, according to the district. Prior to his resignation, Smith had been suspended with pay since Dec. 2, 2021, signaling that the district may have been aware of issues with Smith.

Sources at the Department of Public Instruction indicated Smith’s teaching license was revoked on Sept. 14, although it may take time for the state’s revocation website to reflect that update.