St. Tammany Parish Sheriff Randy Smith pleaded guilty today (Wednesday) to one felony count of Second Degree Battery and one misdemeanor count of Disturbing the Peace by Public Intoxication, arising from an incident that occurred on May 29 at a Madisonville restaurant.
The charges stem from an altercation in which Smith approached the victim from behind, grabbed him by the neck, and pulled him to the ground before repeatedly striking him. As a result of the attack, the victim sustained a concussion and dental injuries.
Smith was arrested following an investigation conducted by the Attorney General’s Louisiana Bureau of Investigation. After reviewing the evidence, the District Attorney’s Office accepted the charges of Second Degree Battery and Disturbing the Peace by Public Intoxication and proceeded with prosecution.
The Court sentenced Smith to two years at hard labor. The sentence was suspended, and he was placed on two years of supervised probation. As a special condition of probation, Smith is required to successfully complete a Specialty Court program that is expected to last between fifteen and eighteen months.
As part of the negotiated resolution, Smith agreed to immediately resign from his position as Sheriff and plead guilty as charged to both offenses. In exchange, the State agreed that the Court would retain jurisdiction under Louisiana Code of Criminal Procedure Article 881.1 for the period of probation, and upon successful completion of Specialty Court and compliance with all probationary conditions, the defendant qualifies to have his conviction for Second Degree Battery reduced to Simple Battery. Failure to successfully complete the program will leave the felony original conviction and sentence intact and may subject Smith to revocation proceedings.
Because the judge who ordinarily supervises the Specialty Court program in the 22nd Judicial District recused herself from this matter, the defendant will participate in a comparable program in the Twenty-First Judicial District in Tangipahoa Parish.
According to the district attorney's office, in reaching this resolution prosecutors weighed the interests of accountability, rehabilitation, and the public’s interest in the prompt resolution of the case. The prosecution considered that contested litigation involving an elected official could have been prolonged, delaying finality and potentially extending uncertainty regarding Smith's status in office. This outcome was also reached in consultation with the victim and with his approval. The negotiated plea secured Smith’s immediate resignation from public office, a guilty plea to all charged conduct, a two-year probationary term, and participation in an intensive treatment-focused program.
In a statement District Attorney Collin Sims said, “The resolution brings the case to a prompt and appropriate conclusion, secures the defendant’s immediate resignation, and provides the clarity needed for the men and women of the Sheriff’s Office to move forward and remain focused on their mission of protecting the public. The plea provides a path for the defendant to earn a reduction that addresses the sobriety issues that led him to this place, and in the event he does not successfully complete the treatment court, he will remain a convicted felon and face revocation and imprisonment.”
