WASHINGTON COUNTY — A Washington County jury has bound a 33-year-old Ashley man guilty of sexually assaulting his two young stepdaughters last year.

According to Attorney General Kwame Raoul’s office, Joseph Smith was found guilty on two counts of predatory criminal sexual assault and one count of aggravated criminal sexual abuse, which is punishable by 12 to 120 years in prison. Smith is due to be sentenced on June 6, in Washington County Court.

Smith allegedly abused his two stepdaughters in 2022, when they were 11 and 12 years old. He was charged with six Class X counts of predatory criminal sexual assault of a victim under the age of 13 and Class 2 felony aggravated criminal sexual abuse of a family member under 18.

The jury found him guilty of four Class X felony charges.

Raoul’s office prosecuted Smith, who was arrested and charged on Jan. 7 in Washington County Circuit Court after the children reported the abuse at school.