OT: Zach Smith accepts plea deal for disorderly conduct
For anyone still following this sad, mess of a story.
Zach Smith is claiming that the domestic violence charges were dropped, and he plead down from charges of trespassing to disorderly conduct. Court also gave Courtney Smith a 3-year protection order, which Zach Smith claims was mutual request and he actually wanted it to be for life:
Charges dropped. Cases dismissed. Faith, patience & the truth will always prevail. pic.twitter.com/TNxkGGh4DR
— Zach Smith (@CoachZachSmith) October 23, 2018
She wasn’t awarded anything. I REQUESTED the Mutual Order for LIFE. Ask my attorney. They told me to just do a 3-year. AND I pled “guilty” to a minor misdemeanor to avoid the cost of a trial because they wanted to end this.
— Zach Smith (@CoachZachSmith) October 23, 2018
You’re an absolute bafoon & give reporters a bad name. https://t.co/jzPnrRdU92
October 23rd, 2018 at 8:51 PM ^
good thing he wasn't in EL. they'd have gotten him for littering.
as to his comment about just pleading guilty to avoid the cost of trial, for a guy in his income bracket and family resources, i call horse puckey on that.
October 23rd, 2018 at 8:56 PM ^
Despite his income, I believe it was documented that he had some financial troubles. Plus, his future earnings potential has taken a hit recently. I can see making the decision he did.
October 23rd, 2018 at 9:00 PM ^
Coke isn't cheap.
October 23rd, 2018 at 9:05 PM ^
Neither are ball lifters
October 23rd, 2018 at 9:11 PM ^
I bet he had to use a few boxes to clean out his office. And rubber gloves.
October 23rd, 2018 at 9:05 PM ^
this isn't money for a new stereo for your new-used pick up truck. this is a criminal conviction. it is time to call your brother/mother/aunt jennie/uncle joe whomever you can and get some money for a lawyer. don't be penny-wise and pound-foolish. but most importantly, in our country indigent defendants are appointed counsel and zero or very little charge. he is trying too hard make excuses and save face.
October 23rd, 2018 at 9:30 PM ^
I agree with you. He spends his energies posturing to sound innocent when what he did was admit guilt to a different charge while also getting saddled with a protective order. It's unlikely a prosecutor would pursue any charge unless they believed he broke the law. As concerned as he is about his image, he could have tried his case and maintained his presumption of innocence. It's also likely that his criminal defense attorneys would have been on the hook to represent him at trial until and unless the judge allowed them to withdraw. I also don't know of any judge that would accept a plea because the defendant believed that they were innocent but didn't have enough money to go to trial.
October 24th, 2018 at 12:54 AM ^
I also don't know of any judge that would accept a plea because the defendant believed that they were innocent but didn't have enough money to go to trial.
An Alford plea allows a defendant to plead guilty while still maintaining that they're not guilty of the charge. While I agree that it would be unusual for a judge to agree to an Alford plea due to financial constraints, I can see the argument in this case: "Your Honor, I'm not guilty, but I believe the state has compelling evidence to cause a conviction, and I do not wish to spend the money necessary to defend myself in lieu of taking the prosecution's offer."
Although, again, I doubt he was that worried about a misdemeanor charge of disorderly conduct -- it's a similar charge to minor-in-possession and not really something that's going to shape his reputation one way or the other. :)
October 23rd, 2018 at 9:10 PM ^
Sheet -- In EL, he'd be part of the team, still. And, Dantonio would be done taling about it.
October 24th, 2018 at 12:46 AM ^
According to the ESPN story, he was fined $289 plus court fees and pled guilty to a misdemeanor. A trial could easily have cost thousands of dollars and likely wouldn't have done much to restore his reputation, since the thing he was on trial for wasn't the thing people are really upset about.
To wit: the original charge was criminal trespass, resulting from the order of protection that his ex-wife received. If the facts that came out at the time were true, it sounded like a set-up, and while he was almost certainly guilty by the letter of the law, there's a real chance he could have beaten the charge if the DA had gone to trial.
But, what good would it have done? He's roasted in the court of public opinion for the stuff he already got away with. If he spends thousands of dollars so that he can truthfully say he was cleared of this charge, it wouldn't change anybody's opinion about the others.
I don't like the guy, but I can understand cutting his losses and taking a plea to a misdemeanor, and I'm not necessarily ready to cast additional aspersions on him for doing so, or for calling it, essentially, a business decision. If you want to call him out, do so for the tweet implying that all charges were dropped, since that is patently false.
October 24th, 2018 at 5:50 AM ^
jourdan lewis called. he said it was worth every bit of $ to go to trial and be defended by our friend john shea.
October 24th, 2018 at 8:09 AM ^
Sure, but JD’s was an isolated incident. Smith would be wasting his time and money trying to reclaim his reputation.
October 24th, 2018 at 2:56 PM ^
Grant Perry joined the 3-way call and said to take the plea deal...
October 23rd, 2018 at 8:59 PM ^
Its no wonder people do all kinds of bad shit. There are no real consequences anymore. Guy’ll probably be making 80 grand a year at an FCS school in two years. Jokes on us.
October 23rd, 2018 at 10:53 PM ^
Not this bafoon. In addition to being a truly despicable person, he was equally a poor coach. Don’t know who would deal with the hassle for such a mediocre coach.
October 24th, 2018 at 6:12 AM ^
Someone will expect him to have an impact on their recruiting by bringing a bit of the ohio state name brand with him. It might be at a community college level, but I'd be surprised if he doesn't get something coaching.
October 24th, 2018 at 8:24 AM ^
He's Earl Bruce's grandson. He'll find a job
October 23rd, 2018 at 9:07 PM ^
He got the gauntlet laid down in comparison to Travis Walton
October 23rd, 2018 at 9:13 PM ^
I am stuck at 20 points , it has been that way for like 2 months now, what do i do ????
October 23rd, 2018 at 9:17 PM ^
I just gave you an imaginary upvote.
October 23rd, 2018 at 9:41 PM ^
Drink some delicious Michigan mead.
October 23rd, 2018 at 11:52 PM ^
Is it autumnal?
October 23rd, 2018 at 9:15 PM ^
"See? I told you I was innocent all along! Charges dropped!
...because I plea-bargained to a lesser offense.
Hey, look at me, innocent!"
October 24th, 2018 at 12:55 AM ^
It's like those big font / little font t-shirts from about 15 years ago:
I WON A SET
of complimentary coasters
AT WIMBLEDON
Home Furnishings
October 23rd, 2018 at 9:20 PM ^
Hahahahaha. After all his talk of innocence and the way his name was dragged through the mud, he takes a plea and agrees to a three year protection order (while making it sound like his idea)? Yeah, he can try and polish that turd, but I’m not buying it
October 23rd, 2018 at 9:24 PM ^
All the money he saved from having more lawyer fees will buy a shit load of dildos.
October 23rd, 2018 at 10:30 PM ^
....and ball lifters.
October 23rd, 2018 at 9:25 PM ^
Still crying about being a victim. Says he misses his players. Funny, I’ve yet to see one of them say they miss him. Those kids are better off without him
October 23rd, 2018 at 9:26 PM ^
Zach Smith literally gives buffoons a bad name, namely “bafoon.” This guy is such a cliche, and yet, somehow, he is a real human being. It boggles the mind.
October 23rd, 2018 at 9:28 PM ^
For more on how pleas work in Ohio, see this season of the Serial podcast.
October 23rd, 2018 at 9:30 PM ^
Maybe he can sell bags of dicks?
October 23rd, 2018 at 10:11 PM ^
...the state of OH is filled with 'em ...and isn't that also the OSU mascot?
October 23rd, 2018 at 9:31 PM ^
Man with penchant for violence “celebrates” his own guilty plea by getting angry on the internet. Keep digging that hole prick
October 23rd, 2018 at 9:38 PM ^
I hope for the sake of his kids that this idiot learns humility and self-awareness one day.
October 23rd, 2018 at 9:39 PM ^
I bet this news cheered Urban up.
October 23rd, 2018 at 10:19 PM ^
It probably did, but he won't remember it tomorrow.
October 23rd, 2018 at 10:19 PM ^
Ohio bagmen payed him plenty to keep quiet & publicly support the liar (allegedly). He's not hurting for money...
October 23rd, 2018 at 11:28 PM ^
fuck you! I DEMANDED the restraining order against myself! I win!
October 24th, 2018 at 5:19 AM ^
Probably past time to drop the "Coach" from that Twitter handle now Zach.....