A candidate for a state House seat in south-central Kentucky has been indicted for failing to report a sexual abuse incident involving a former colleague.
John Wayne Smith is the Democratic challenger facing incumbent Republican Michael Meredith, who represents Edmonson, Hart, and Larue counties in the Kentucky House. WDRB-TV in Louisville first reportedthat Smith was indicted last week by a federal grand jury for failing to report an incident that occurred while he was director of the Bluegrass Challenge Academy at Ft. Knox.
The academy is a residential, educational program run by the state National Guard.
Smith allegedly had knowledge that 44-year-old Stephen Miller assaulted a female minor in February of 2013. Miller is also charged with sexual abuse against two other female minors in the months following the first alleged assault.
The indictment against Smith says he could face a year in prison and $100,000 in fines if he’s convicted of not reporting the abuse.
CN2 reports that Republican Party of Kentucky chairman Steve Robertson has called on Smith to exit the race. Rep. Meredith stopped short of calling on his opponent to withdraw, but said the indictment against Smith “raises some serious questions.”
