District Attorney Adam Levy is filing a $5 million defamation lawsuit against Sheriff Donald B. Smith following the back-and-forth that came with the arrest of a Southeast man—a friend of the DA—accused of rape.
A press release states that Smith was "motivated by malice and political gamesmanship" when he "orchestrated a public smear campaign by disseminating information about Levy that he knew to be false."
“As district attorney, I’ve worked hard to create, build and nurture my professional reputation in the legal community," Levy said in his filing, according to the release. "The thought that someone like Smith, with an axe to grind and political agenda to advance, could act so reprehensibly, and with just a mouthful of words and a click of a mouse, disseminate a series of false and malicious statements designed to destroy something I have worked so hard to build is offensive to any fair-minded person, and such conduct cannot be left unchallenged."
Smith could not be reached for comment Wednesday afternoon.
The lawsuit reportedly notes "a series of defamatory statements Sheriff Smith made in March 2013 relating to his office’s investigation into the alleged rape of a 13-year old girl."
Alexandru Hossu, a 35-year-old illegal immigrant from Romania, was arrested in March in connection with the case. Tensions between the two Putnam leaders erupted then. Hossu once lived at Levy's home.
Levy claims Hossu was a personal friend. He maintains that Smith "not only made repeated false statements accusing Levy of interfering in the investigation—which he had not and did not—but also of using his position as district attorney to influence and affect the investigation."
Furthermore, Levy says Smith has been unable to provide any proof or evidence to support his accusations in the five months since Hossu was charged.
“The awesome power possessed by the police to investigate crimes, detain suspects and arrest people who they claim committed crimes must never be abused by politically motivated elected sheriffs and their appointed representatives who have personal agendas that contravene the basic precepts of our federal and state constitutions,” Levy said in the filing.
Here's more from the press release:
As a result of Smith’s inappropriate media leaks and his subsequent press releases that were filled with false and inflammatory statements about the case, Smith created a media circus that focused on Levy and his family. Levy is suing Smith in his individual capacity and not as an employee of the County of Putnam.
In March 2013, Levy expressed concern that Smith, who is running for re-election in November, would manipulate the investigation to further his political and personal agendas.
His concerns were validated when Levy received multiple inquiries from the media asking him to comment about a story that was leaked to the press from unidentified sources in Smith’s department.
Moreover, the suit outlines a compelling and powerful timeline of events that supports the fact that Smith violated standard investigatory practices and completely disregarded his legal, ethical and moral obligations to the alleged victim, all in an effort to connect Levy to the defendant and to further Smith’s political agenda.
What do you make the lawsuit, and the feud between Levy and Smith? Share your opinion here.
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