TUSCALOOSA | RICKEY STOKES NEWS
A Tuscaloosa man has been charged with possession of child sex abuse material after authorities say he used artificial intelligence to create an illegal image of a juvenile.
According to court documents filed Monday, the West Alabama Human Trafficking Task Force received a tip indicating that 40-year-old Richard Wayne Smalley was in possession of an image depicting a child in a state of nudity.
Investigators responded to Smalley’s residence in McCalla and conducted a search of his phone. Authorities say they discovered the image during that search.
Court documents state Smalley allegedly used artificial intelligence to modify a normal photo of the victim by digitally removing the clothing the juvenile was wearing in the original image.
Smalley was arrested Friday and charged with one count of possession of child sex abuse material. He was booked into the Tuscaloosa County Jail with bond set at $30,000.
Captain Phil Simpson, commander of the West Alabama Human Trafficking Task Force, said the case is among the first the unit has encountered involving AI-generated images.
However, Simpson noted that the Alabama Child Protection Act of 2024 makes the creation or possession of such material illegal.
“Even when these images are created using artificial intelligence, the victim is still being exploited, and it’s something we’re taking very seriously,” Simpson said. “We want people to understand that this can and will lead to criminal charges.”
Authorities say the investigation remains ongoing.
