Coal County Sheriff Jason Smith has been indicted by the Multi-County Grand Jury on charges of domestic abuse and assault and battery. The grand jury also indicted Undersheriff Jesse Yother for intimidating a witness and obstructing an officer in connection with the same case.
The indictments are linked to an incident that took place on July 26 in Coalgate. According to allegations, Smith, age 48, shoved his wife and struck the husband of one of his deputies. Yother, age 64, is accused of threatening a deputy to change her account as a witness and preventing a Coalgate police officer from securing the scene.
In addition to the criminal charges, the grand jury has filed a motion seeking Smith’s removal from office. This motion cites not only the current charges but also alleges habitual drunkenness and sexual harassment of employees.
Attorney General Gentner Drummond commented on the development: “There can be no tolerance for a sheriff sworn to preserve the peace but whose actions clearly undermine the law and endanger public safety. These allegations against the sheriff are serious and, if proven true, indicate he is unfit to continue serving the citizens of Coal County.”
District 18 District Attorney Chuck Sullivan will prosecute the case after Coal County District Attorney Tim Webster recused himself. Sullivan stated: “I thank the grand jury for their work and deliberation, but I will remind you that Sheriff Smith remains innocent until proven guilty. We will remain steadfast in prosecuting this as we would any case, regardless of who the defendant is.”
If convicted, Smith faces up to one year in county jail or a $5,000 fine for domestic abuse; assault and battery carries up to six months in jail or a $1,000 fine. Both are misdemeanors. Yother’s charge of intimidating a state witness is classified as a felony with potential imprisonment from one to ten years. Obstruction of an officer is a misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in jail or a $500 fine.
Authorities emphasized that all individuals arrested or indicted are presumed innocent unless convicted in court.
