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Sheriff scandal in Noble County

Landon Smith’s checkered career comes to an end; Smith resigns amid charges

By Sam Shawver, sshawver@mariettatimes.com
POSTED: May 23, 2009

Article Photos


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.

Member Comments
View Comments: | 1-25 | Post a comment
theenforcer
05-28-09 11:30 PM
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?

nanaone
05-28-09 5:44 PM
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.

thatswhereimfrom
05-27-09 4:58 PM
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

kidsfirst
05-25-09 12:24 AM
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.

beautyqueen
05-24-09 11:17 PM
he burned a man out of a barn, not bar, the n did not het in there. SORRY

beautyqueen
05-24-09 11:16 PM
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.

nanaone
05-24-09 9:08 PM
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"....

bwc511
05-24-09 7:15 PM
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

theycallmetatersalad219
05-24-09 12:35 PM
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!!!

tingette
05-23-09 10:57 PM
Andy Taylor????? LOL HAHAHAHAHAHAHA.

THey tried Andy of malfesance of office once; No WAY was HE guilty.

jewels
05-23-09 8:51 PM
Maybe someone could come and check out the Morgan County office next.

sheridan1
05-23-09 8:49 PM
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

sheridan1
05-23-09 8:36 PM
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

beautyqueen
05-23-09 4:42 PM
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.

digmedia
05-23-09 4:11 PM
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.

JohnnyRingo
05-23-09 4:02 PM
damon05...... I knew it, I just knew it.......

Roland
05-23-09 2:43 PM
A good man, Noble county will be worse off wihout him. Minor and technical infractions.

ramon05
05-23-09 2:27 PM
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.

theycallmetatersalad219
05-23-09 11:55 AM
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!!

flgirl
05-23-09 11:53 AM
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.

billybob45acp
05-23-09 11:24 AM
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....

bancomicsans
05-23-09 7:52 AM
I've always heard rumors, but like anything else...I thought that they were fabricated small town lore. I sure was wrong!

whostoblame
05-23-09 7:39 AM
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.

hasworkedingovt
05-23-09 5:59 AM
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.

maddog
05-23-09 4:35 AM
This man knows how to run a county. Good luck Landon. You'll always be Sheriff.

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