Sheriff: Fernley man arrested for child sexual assault

A Fernley man was arrested Wednesday for sexual assault of a child, according to a Lyon County Sheriff’s Office news release.

Corey Lane Smith, 29, was arrested at his Fernley home following an investigation by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Smith also faces charges related to child pornography.

According to the LCSO release, Homeland Security contacted LCSO in reference to an investigation into the viewing of child pornography on the internet. Law enforcement identified Smith as the suspect, according to the release.

Wednesday, LCSO, Homeland Security and the Northern Nevada Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force executed a search warrant at Smith's residence.

During the search, investigators found evidence of child pornography-related internet activity as recent as Tuesday, the release said. Subsequently, Smith admitted to using the internet to view child pornography and to sexually assaulting a child in 2021.

Smith was arrested and booked into the Lyon County jail on the following charges:

• Sexual assault of a child under the age of 14;

• Use of the internet to control visual presentation depicting sexual conduct of a person under 16 years of age.

Smith's bail is $110,000.

Anyone with any information about this investigation is urged to contact Detective Sgt. Erik Kusmerz at 775-463-6600 extension 3007.