A former deputy coroner in Schuylkill and Carbon counties says he does not have any money to fight attempted child sex charges against him.

Edward C. Smith, 60, of Tamaqua, has been accused of soliciting oral sex from a 14-year-old boy online, when in fact it was a fake account set up by agents with the state Attorney General’s office.

He is currently incarcerated at Luzerne County Correctional Facility.

In court for a scheduled preliminary hearing on Monday, Smith told a magisterial district judge he has no money for an attorney, after being fired from both of his positions.

Smith filed an application for a public defender in September, shortly after he was arrested on a count of felony illegal contact with a minor.

At the time, he did not qualify because of his $50,000 annual income working as a coroner for Carbon and Schuylkill counties.

Smith was told Monday to reapply for a public defender in light of his current financial situation.

Smith was arrested Sept. 23 after an investigation by the Attorney General’s Office. They set up an online profile claiming to be a 14-year-old boy.

Smith allegedly sent messages asking the boy to engage in kissing, cuddling and oral sex. He also allegedly told the boy to delete the records of their conversations.

He was arrested Sept. 20 after arranging to meet with the boy. When Smith arrived, agents said, he was questioned, waived his right to attorney, and admitted to sending the messages.

He faces felony counts of unlawful contact with a minor, criminal attempt to commit involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, criminal use of a communications facility and unlawful contact with a minor for sexual purposes, along with a misdemeanor count of criminal attempt to commit indecent assault on a minor under the age of 16.

Smith is being held on $250,000 bail.