Former Page County Supervisor Pleads Guilty to Charges Involving Minor
LURAY, Va. — A former Page County supervisor recently pled guilty to crimes involving the exploitation of a child.
On December 17, 2025, Isaac Smelser, 43, appeared in Page County Circuit Court before the Honorable Clark A. Ritchie.
According to a statement presented by the Attorney General’s office, Smelser began a relationship with a 15-year-old male in December of 2023 after meeting on an adult dating website.
During the online relationship, Smelser sent images and videos of himself performing acts of self-gratification. In return, the teen sent images of himself to Smelser. All incidents occurred in Page County.
The relationship was ultimately discovered by the teen’s parents when they bought him a new cel phone and graphic images were transferred.
Smelser first pledged his oath to the Page County Board of Supervisors in January of 2024. Less than 10 months later, county administrators issued the following statement:
On October 23, in a letter to Chairman Keith Weakley and County Administrator Amity Moler, District 4 Supervisor Isaac Smelser resigned from the Board of Supervisors, effective immediately.
Mr. Smelser cited that “due to personal circumstances, I can no longer serve the citizens of Page County”.
The Board does not have any comment regarding the matter. According to § 24.2-228 of the Code of Virginia, the Board has 45 days to appoint a qualified individual to the vacancy until a special election can be held to fill the unexpired term.
At the time, no additional information was released on Smelser’s resignation, and there’s no indication that county administrators knew of the specific reason for his decision. Another community member eventually filled the vacated BOS seat.
According to online court records, Smelser was ultimately arrested on November 6, 2025. He admitted to meeting the teen online, but stated that he didn’t remember the victim being under-age.
On Wednesday, Smelser appeared in court alongside his attorney, André Hakes.
Dressed in a dark business suit and displaying a stoic expression, he pled guilty to the following charges:
PRODUCE/MAKE CHILD P*RN 15+
COMPUTER ETC SOLIC <18Y FOR P*RN
CHILD P*RNOGRAPHY: POSSESSION
CHILD P*RNOGRAPHY: POSSESSION
A pre-sentencing evaluation (not to exceed 90 days) will be held to determine penalty and rehabilitation recommendations for Smelser.
Actual sentencing is scheduled for March 31, 2026.
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