A.J. Smith
MIDDLETOWN — The trial starts today for City Councilman A.J. Smith and the three women facing disorderly conduct charges following a scuffle over another man.
Smith, 21, along with his sister, Elicia Smith, 20, Ashley Knight, 18, and Sherrell Knight, 22, will be on trial today, Aug. 16, on the charge of disorderly conduct.
The case will be heard before Judge James Ruppert in Middletown Municipal Court at 1:30 p.m. Judge Mark Wall was excused from the case due to Smith’s role in city government.
The charge stems from a July 14 incident in the 2000 block of Aaron Drive, where police say they found Smith and the three women involved in a disturbance. According to police, it was instigated by a series of text messages between Ashley Knight and Elicia Smith over a man with whom both women have a relationship.
According to the report filed by police Officer Deaton, who responded to the incident, he was willing to allow the parties to disperse with a warning, but Smith insisted on each of them being issued a disorderly conduct summons. Smith later said he wanted them to be charged in the interest of justice for his sister.
As a misdemeanor, the punishment for disorderly conduct, if found guilty, ranges from a minimum fine of $150 and no jail time to $250 in fines and 30 days in jail, depending on the severity of the offense, according to court officials.
Contact this reporter at (513) 705-2843 or jheffner@coxohio.com.
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