"Smith faced abuse allegations from four women incarcerated at Dublin between 2019 and 2021. They testified that he pushed them up against the walls of their cells and other secluded rooms in the housing units, forced his fingers inside of them, and in one case, compelled a woman to have sex with him. The weekslong trial, which began in August, was Smith's second."
"In the spring, U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers declared a mistrial after that jury deadlocked on all of the counts against him, plus a 15th charge prosecutors later dropped. Smith's first jury was reportedly split evenly on his guilt and said the case lacked concrete evidence. On Wednesday, according to a court observer, several male jurors wept as they told Gonzalez Rogers they were unable to reach a consensus."
"Defense attorneys Naomi Chung and Joanna Sheridan again sought to undermine the women's testimony, pointing to rewards available to those who joined civil lawsuits against the Bureau of Prisons. They called witnesses who said the incarcerated women had been encouraged by attorneys to bring forward abuse claims. During closing arguments, Chung argued the women stood to gain money and, in some cases, early release or asylum in the U.S."
Four women incarcerated at Dublin alleged that Smith assaulted them between 2019 and 2021, including pushing them against cell walls, forcing his fingers inside them, and compelling one woman to have sex. A weeks-long federal trial began in August; a prior trial in spring ended in a mistrial after that jury deadlocked on all counts and a 15th charge was dropped. Jurors reported difficulty reaching a verdict, with several male jurors reportedly weeping. Defense attorneys challenged the accusers' credibility by highlighting potential rewards tied to civil lawsuits, witnesses claiming attorney encouragement to file claims, and Smith's prior demotion years earlier.
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