Sheriff scandal in Noble County
Landon Smith’s checkered career comes to an end; Smith resigns amid chargesBy Sam Shawver, sshawver@mariettatimes.com
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Fact Box
A look back
November 1972 - Landon Smith elected sheriff of Noble County.
September 1984 - Smith lays off his entire staff after being told by county commissioners there was no money available to fund the department. Sheriff's department employees, however, worked four months without paychecks. An analysis of the office's financial records showed budget additions frequently had to be made toward the end of the year in previous years.
Earlier in the month, commissioners had asked the prosecutor to investigate the sheriff's department because of nearly 1,300 phone calls resulting in more than $3,000 of expenses and questions over whether his ex-wife was serving as jail matron. She was being paid for the job, although the checks were not picked up for more than two years.
A former dispatcher alleged he had been fired for reporting to the state auditor's office that the woman was being paid for duties she was not performing. The county prosecutor appointed two special prosecutors to investigate.
October 1984 - Clarence "Casey" Munyan, Smith's opponent in the 1984 election, accuses Smith of using county jail prisoners to do work on the sheriff's farm. Smith denies it.
November 1984 - Smith is indicted by a special grand jury on one count of theft in office, a third-degree felony, based on the phone calls between July 1981 and August 1984. Two days after being re-elected with 70 percent of the vote, the sheriff enters a plea of not guilty in Noble County Common Pleas Court.
January 1985 - A jury finds Smith not guilty. Prosecutors said the calls in question were made to the sheriff's brother and girlfriend, and the girlfriend's workplace. Smith's attorneys argued that the calls were made to Smith at his girlfriend's residence and workplace to keep him informed of what was going on in the county. The defense said the sheriff offered to reimburse the county and suggested the charges were politically motivated.
April 1990 - Robert Egnot dies after a siege by deputies of the Noble, Washington and Monroe County sheriff's offices on a Noble County barn from which he engaged in a shootout with officers. After Egnot allegedly shot and killed Washington County sheriff's Deputy Rodney Kinzy, the barn was set on fire and burned down with Egnot inside. Smith said the fire was an effort to smoke Egnot out and his death was due to his refusal to comply with authorities.
1992 - Egnot's parents file a wrongful death lawsuit against the three county sheriffs.
February 1996 - Days before the trial on the suit was set to start, an out-of-court settlement was reached.
November 2000 - Smith is re-elected with nearly 70 percent of the vote.
July 2003 - Noble County commissioners craft an emergency plan to keep the sheriff's office open after all of its funding for the year was used up.
August 2003 - Monroe County Judge James Peters accuses Smith of having a prisoner work at the sheriff's Belle Valley restaurant as a cook. Smith says the man was only doing electrical work. The issue is resolved after Peters and Noble County Prosecutor Clifford Sickler agree that any Monroe County inmates housed at Noble County's jail can only be made trustees with the judge's approval.
Friday - Smith resigns, facing a felony charge of unlawful interest in a public contract and a misdemeanor count of conflict of interest. He is expected to plead guilty to the charges June 3.
Source: Times research.
Landon Smith has been accused of abusing his power more than once during his 35-plus years as sheriff of Noble County.
Still, the people have re-elected him time and again, often with voter support in the 70 percent range.
But on Friday, Smith, 66, resigned from the post, facing charges of nepotism and conflict of interest after a six-month investigation by the Ohio Ethics Commission. He is expected to plead guilty to those counts on June 3, when they are formally filed with the Noble County clerk of courts, according to special prosecutor Dave Yost.
Following a press conference announcing Smith's resignation, county Commissioner Virgil Thompson described him as the "Andy Taylor of Noble County."
"He was a legend in his own time," added Commissioner Bob Nau. "He knew everybody, their kids and their grandkids."
A special election is expected to be held for sheriff in 2010, and voters won't be able to return Smith to the job he had for more than three decades, even if they wanted to do so.
"Once convicted, he will be ineligible to hold a peace officer position again," Yost said. "He could potentially run for another office, but not one requiring peace officer certification."
The resignation and expected plea are part of an agreement with Yost, the Delaware County prosecutor. He was asked to oversee the investigation by his Noble County counterpart, Clifford Sickler.
Paul Nick, chief investigating attorney with the Ohio Ethics Commission, said the commission was contacted in November with allegations of improprieties within the Noble County Sheriff's Office.
"The prosecutor in this county received a referral from the Ohio Ethics Commission last week, and we believe this pattern of practice has been continuing for a long time," Nick said.
Yost said the investigation resulted in a fourth-degree felony charge of unlawful interest in a public contract and a first-degree misdemeanor charge of conflict of interest against Smith. Yost said the felony charge carries a potential six to 18 months of jail time and a fine of up to $2,500. The misdemeanor charge could bring an additional 180 days in jail and a $1,000 fine.
Yost said the felony charge stemmed from Smith's hiring of relatives, including his wife, Peggy Smith, who has been a sheriff's deputy for 18 years. Although she's not facing any charges, Peggy Smith also resigned on Friday.
Smith's daughter-in-law is also employed with the sheriff's department, but Yost said she was not implicated in the investigation and continues to work at the office.
The misdemeanor charge resulted from Landon Smith's alleged use of sheriff's department vehicles to transport inmates to his home where they performed garden and lawn chores for the sheriff.
Yost said investigators also photographed a sheriff's department vehicle driven by Peggy Smith for personal use in a Wal-Mart parking lot with a child's safety seat that had been installed in the back.
The Smiths could not be reached for comment Friday.
Also on Friday, Noble County commissioners appointed Steve Hannum, a detective with the sheriff's department, to serve as interim sheriff. Hannum has been with the department since 1996.
"It's a sad day for Noble County," Hannum said following his appointment.
"Landon Smith contributed to this community in many ways we won't ever know," he said. "It's unfortunate that Landon lost focus on what he was elected to do.
"But I look forward to working with the commissioners," Hannum added. "I'll be my own man and will leave my own footprints in the sand."
The commissioners said they had two officers who were qualified to take Smith's place, Hannum or patrolman Jason Mackie.
Nau noted that, according to state code, the county's Democratic Executive Committee would have to officially appoint Hannum in not less than five days nor more than 45 days following Smith's resignation. He said the committee could choose another appointee, but because only two men were qualified, the commissioners assume the committee will go along with Hannum's appointment.
It isn't the first time Smith has faced a felony charge of abusing his position as sheriff.
In 1984, he was indicted on a third-degree felony count of theft in office, based on nearly 1,300 phone calls a special prosecutor labeled as personal, which cost the county more than $3,000. A jury exonerated him in January of 1985.
Just four days after being indicted, Smith was re-elected, receiving 70 percent of the vote.
In 2003, a Monroe County judge complained that Smith was using an inmate from Monroe County housed at the Noble County jail as a cook at a restaurant the sheriff owned in Belle Valley. Smith said the man had been doing electrical work, and the matter was settled after Sickler reached an agreement with the judge that Monroe County inmates could not be trustees without the judge's approval.
On Friday, Sickler called Smith "a bulwark of law enforcement in Noble County.
"But some things spiraled out of control, and someone has to be held accountable," he said.
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theenforcer
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05-28-09 11:30 PM
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i am so glad that the marietta times has chosen to allow posts on this subject. the daily jeff erased the whole article ;including comments. someone asked if the inmates were forced to work on his property or in his restaurant. i dont think they were "forced" but they were given the incentive of having jail days reduced significantly. i dont think any officer should have this right, as the jail time is set through the courts. my family attempted to view court records( which are public info anywhere else) and was told that the sheriff had to okay it. why?? it wasnt a high profile case . the secretary said it was their own law for all records. noble county is alo one of the few left that you are unable to view the inmate roster.... which is also public information. i wonder if this all coming to a head now has something to do with the recent firing of the caldwell police chief?
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nanaone
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05-28-09 5:44 PM
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It amazes me that there are people in this county who believe that Landon is the great savior who can walk on water and do no wrong. He served for 37 years with 30 of them as a corrupt sheriff. His wife was a deputy for 18 years. Thats funny!! She was a paid nobody. Request to look at time cards or log books and you won't see her on any paperwork unless there was a camera around. I wish I could of had a job for 18 years and never had to show up for work. Going shopping in a county vehicle doesn't mean that your working. The tip of the ice berg has not even been touched yet with the corruptuion that flows from the sheriff and his Judge. I wonder if I get in a argument with my significant other will the sheriff and judge come to my house and cover it up? Finally some Law brought to all the people of this county regardless of what your name is or who your friends with. Look on the bright side, you wont see anymore cow feed in the cruisers.
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thatswhereimfrom
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05-27-09 4:58 PM
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Landon will be missed. Steve Hannum as sherriff...HA..that should be good considering he acts as if his job as a deputy was a chore. Landon kept our county safe. Yes he was a little old fashioned but these days that seems to be what this country needs. I agree with digmedia. This county needs the "good ol boy" ethics they always had. I love our small town country fried atmosphere. As for the barn burning.. Egnot deserved what came to him. He was ordered many times to surrender...he MURDERED somebody not to mention all the other times he broke the law. He was ordered many times to surrender...he had the chance to save his own life. Landon dedicated his life to our county..he was a man of his word..as for being corrupt...name one person in any high up seat in our county that is not corrupt in some way. Every one of them abuses their power to some degree...but as long as they can do their jobs and keep us safe..so what.WE WILL MISS YOU LANDON T. I guess time will tell
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kidsfirst
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05-25-09 12:24 AM
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How dare anyone compare Andy Taylor to Landon Smith? I doubt Andy raised the same crops in the hills unless thats why goober acted odd. Al capone is a ledgend too.
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beautyqueen
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05-24-09 11:17 PM
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he burned a man out of a barn, not bar, the n did not het in there. SORRY
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beautyqueen
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05-24-09 11:16 PM
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Just wanted to notify the "juniorchamp", that yes indeed Landon did kill someone, if you remeber correctly, he burned a man in a bar. What do you call that? Guarantee if someone else did that, they would get caught. The truth of the matter is, he screwewd up one to many times, and FINALLY, he was turned in. He needs charged with all accounts, not just the ones that deals were made on. Anyone else would pay for what they have done. Hope he gets all that he deserves.
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nanaone
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05-24-09 9:08 PM
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Does anyone honestly believe that someone in law enforcement for more than 30 years would just agree to resign and plead guilty unless their were many more serious charges that they did not want made public. It is about time that that office gets cleaned up...many more should be looked at also, considering that this has been going on for years..along with alot of other things,that hopefully will come out in the next few weeks. Job well done to Mr. Sickler for not being imitated by this so called "legend"....
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bwc511
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05-24-09 7:15 PM
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right is right and wrong is wront, 1 million rights do not right one wrong... we àll have to learn the hard way sometimes... now get over it and go on
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theycallmetatersalad219
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05-24-09 12:35 PM
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Hey juniorchamps. maybe you forgot about a little incodent in 1990 that had something to do with Landon burning a barn down to the ground with a man in it!!!!! So yea he did KILL someone!!! That man was a husband and a father!!! How would you feel if that was your family member? I went to school at Caldwell and graduated, I hated every minute and was glad to get out of that county, good ridons to bad rubish!!!
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tingette
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05-23-09 10:57 PM
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Andy Taylor????? LOL HAHAHAHAHAHAHA. THey tried Andy of malfesance of office once; No WAY was HE guilty.
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jewels
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05-23-09 8:51 PM
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Maybe someone could come and check out the Morgan County office next.
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sheridan1
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05-23-09 8:49 PM
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THANK YOU THANK YOU digmedia I went to Junior High School in Noble County And Graduated from Caldwell High School Landon was an inspiration to me to pursue a career in Law Enforcement/Corrections before leaving Ohio he told me you make the choice on what path you take in life make sure it is the right path and the one you want to take. whenever I return to my wonderful home in NOBLE COUNTY on my vacations I make a Special trip to Caldwell to Thank and visit with Sheriff LANDON T SMITH without Landon as Sheriff it will never be the same in Noble County a part of that County will always be missing without him in the Sheriff's office
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sheridan1
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05-23-09 8:36 PM
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This is for flgirl..it may have been the older generation that kept Sheriff Landon T Smith in office for over thirty years from what I have seen of this new younger generation our communities and our country have a very BLEAK FUTURE WE NEED Law Enforcement officers like Landon to keep these younger fools in line so we can sleep knowing we won't wake up with someone standing over us with an AK-47 Assault Rifle pointing at our heads or those of our family he may have his faults but he always made sure our communities in Noble County were safe even if he had to get up at 1 or 2:30 am to make a report he always made sure that if you were victimized he would keep you in the loop even over coffee or soda at your house or the restaurant in Belle Valley SO BACK OFF
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beautyqueen
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05-23-09 4:42 PM
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FINALLY!!!! Just wish that this would have happened yeas ago. This was a long time in the making. I just wish that I could be in the courtroom when he pleads guilty. He is as crooked as they come. I am so glad to see him out of office, just wish that someone other than S. Hannum was in there. Hey Landon keep your head up, Starfire is always hiring! lol Thanks to the Ethics Comm.
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digmedia
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05-23-09 4:11 PM
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Sad day in Caldwell (Noble). Sure he did what he wanted, when he wanted to. And a lot of it was probably a little out of line in comparison to modern culture. But, it kept most of us out of trouble growing up. We took some of that unique experience as we left and explored the world. All he had to do was say "I know who your parents are." Problem solved. Think about it. Law enforcement agencies spend millions and millions to enforce the law. Noble spends fractions less. And the County has a low crime rate (per capita) compared to other parts of Ohio or nation. "Good Ole Boy", "Personalized law enforcement", "Small town shanaigans". Call it what you will, it worked. It's why I choose to live in the area and make 50k a year versus living in a big city making 100k. He's the last, know your name law enforcement offcial there is around. He's a dying breed and it will certainly be missed.
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JohnnyRingo
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05-23-09 4:02 PM
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damon05...... I knew it, I just knew it.......
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Roland
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05-23-09 2:43 PM
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A good man, Noble county will be worse off wihout him. Minor and technical infractions.
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ramon05
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05-23-09 2:27 PM
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when i was housed in the pod i overheard a couple guys talking about what they made them do. Good to see the law turning around and working the other way. Most law enforcement agenecies have dark secrets.
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theycallmetatersalad219
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05-23-09 11:55 AM
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Its about time Smith gets in trouble for all the*****he has done over the years! This last thing with his wife is just the icing on the cake! The only reason people voted him in so many times was because he was holding*****over their heads and strong arming them to vote for him. Its a small place, word gets around fast, if you don't think he would know who voted for and against him you better think again!! Smith has finally fallen from his high horse and its GREAT!!
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flgirl
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05-23-09 11:53 AM
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well you know, there is always a bad apple in the bushel. maybe it's time to let someone else have a chance to strengthen the sheriff's department. Seems to me there need to be a little "housekeeping" out with the (old) he should retire, it's probably the older generation that has kept him in office anyway.
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billybob45acp
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05-23-09 11:24 AM
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ok...corruption with public knowledge for years and the citizens still re-elect him.... what does that tell a normal person? A good ole boy?...maybe.... Maybe just real corrupt like the people that voted him back in. I suppose if a student had a substitute teacher that lets them get away with anything/certain things that normally would be against the "rules", they would want them back too....
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bancomicsans
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05-23-09 7:52 AM
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I've always heard rumors, but like anything else...I thought that they were fabricated small town lore. I sure was wrong!
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whostoblame
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05-23-09 7:39 AM
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Don't take away from Landon, he was a good sheriff and did alot for the community. But you can't misuse the system. I have known Landon for years as my father worked for him until he retired. It amazed me how he would get reelected time after time. It's time for a change in Noble county and my hats off to Steve Hamanum for taking on this job.
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hasworkedingovt
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05-23-09 5:59 AM
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Hiring relatives that don't do much for the money, using prisoners for personal gain, and running the county like a dictator. It finally caught up to him. Good riddance Landon.
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maddog
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05-23-09 4:35 AM
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This man knows how to run a county. Good luck Landon. You'll always be Sheriff.
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