Ex-police officer convicted in sexual assault is the primary to face more durable new penalty, DOJ says
A former Oklahoma police officer convicted within the sexual assault of a lady throughout a visitors cease will change into the primary to face a heftier penalty beneath the 2022 reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act, the Justice Division stated.
Jeffrey Scott Smith Jr., 35, is going through as much as 40 years in jail after a jury discovered him responsible this week of a civil rights violation involving sexual assault, high Justice officers stated.
Prosecutors stated Smith was on his first solo shift as a police officer within the small Oklahoma city of Savanna when he pulled over the lady and her then-boyfriend in November 2022. He issued the person a rushing ticket, however then started asking private questions and turned off his physique digital camera, prosecutors stated. He put the lady in his patrol automotive after discovering a promotional marijuana cigarette from the gentleman’s membership the place she labored. He sexually assaulted her in his patrol automotive after deactivating the dashboard digital camera, prosecutors stated.
Protection legal professional John Cannon stated Smith respects the jury’s verdict however maintains his innocence.
The case sends an “unequivocal warning” that individuals who abuse authority by sexual assault can be held accountable, Deputy Legal professional Basic Lisa Monaco stated.
“This can be the primary time we’ve used the brand new enhanced penalties for civil rights violations involving sexual assault, however it is not going to be the final,” she stated.
The earlier most penalty for the civil rights rely was 10 years. Smith additionally faces as much as 20 years on two obstruction of justice counts linked to turning off the cameras.
“Sexual assaults perpetrated by law enforcement officials are heinous crimes and a disgraceful breach of the general public belief in regulation enforcement,” stated Assistant Legal professional Basic Kristen Clarke, head of the Justice Division’s Civil Rights Division. She applauded the lady for coming ahead to report the abuse and to testify at trial.
Smith’s actual sentence can be decided by a choose at a future listening to.
