EASTON, Pa. — A former Easton Area High School resource officer who pleaded guilty to sending a sexually explicit image of himself to a 16-year-old female student has been sentenced to 9-to-24 months in Northampton County Prison.
John Thomas Smoke, 45, of Upper Mount Bethel Township, was sentenced by Northampton County Judge Jennifer R. Sletvold to up to two years in prison, minus two days.
The sentence was announced Wednesday in a Northampton County District Attorney’s Office news release .
The aggravated range sentence for the charge of corruption of minors includes 36 months of probation following completion of the prison sentence.
A 20-year veteran of the Palmer Township Police Department, Smoke had been a resource officer at the high school since 2022.
He had been free on unsecured bail since his arraignment in April 2024.
History of the case
On March 22, 2024, Northampton County District Attorney's Office was advised of an incident involving Smoke at the high school in which he allegedly sent explicit photographs to an underage student.
An investigation determined Smoke contacted an underage student at inappropriate hours, that he sent the student money via CashApp, and that he disseminated a photo of himself holding his penis, according to an affidavit of probable cause.
Smoke was removed from the school and Palmer Township police seized his duty pistol, badge and work computer, authorities said.
He voluntarily turned over his personal cell phone, according to court records.
Palmer Township Police Chief Wayne Smith said after Smoke’s arrest that he was suspended from the force with the intent to terminate.
