Former Sheriff Laurie Smith was found guilty in November 2022 on six counts of corruption and willful misconduct. The charges stemmed from a ‘pay-to-play’ scheme involving the issuance of concealed-carry weapons permits to political donors and friends. Additionally, her tenure was marred by multiple incidents of inmate injuries and deaths in county jails, leading to significant settlements, including a $10 million payout in 2020 for the severe injury of inmate Andrew Hogan. Smith retired in October 2022, just before the verdict was delivered, effectively ending her nearly five-decade career in law enforcement.
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