Trial date set for former statehouse candidate accused of extortion

Jocelyn Smith, Fairborn, is accused of extorting her Republican primary opponent, Rep. Rick Perales, Beavercreek, by saying at a press conference that if he did not drop out of the race she would release more information about the extramarital relationship they had in 2015.

Smith was not in the courtroom during a pretrial today. Her attorney, Dustin Blake, met for about an hour with visiting Judge Timothy Hogan of Hamilton County and Special Prosecutor Stephen Pronai of Madison County.

Smith’s trial was initially set for late October, but was delayed when she replaced her original attorney with a new one.