JP charged with harassment

By Staff, 04/5/18 2:38 PM

PRESCOTT – An elected official has been charged with harassment.

George Smith, justice of the peace for District 8 in Nevada County, was charged with harassment Thursday, for allegedly taking pictures of property owned by Nicky McGuire, who filed the complaint.

According to the complaint, the problems began in June 2017 when Smith and the Nevada County Quorum Court allegedly defamed M&M Wrecker Service during a meeting. It also alleges Smith published mistruths about M&M’s business practices. A lawsuit was filed against all members of the quorum court. The complaint states Smith has been on McGuire’s property taking pictures in March 2018 and has pulled records showing McGuire moved equipment to Hempstead County.

According to the complaint, Smith has asked Nevada County Sheriff Danny Martin and Nevada County Judge Mark Glass to quit using M&M’s wrecker services. On April 3, McGuire stated he saw someone in a red pickup across the street taking pictures, and had two employees witness the event as well. However, the complaint states later, after thinking about the incident, McGuire couldn’t be sure whoever was in the truck had a camera and not a weapon. He followed the truck, taking down the license plate number, but reportedly recognized the driver as Smith.

Smith received a call from Martin concerning the complaint Thursday morning and turned himself in. Smith was booked and formally charged with a May 16 court date set for the misdemeanor offense. Smith said everyone at the Nevada County Jail was professional in their treatment of him after he bonded out.