A former police officer from Savanna, Oklahoma, has been sentenced to 40 years in prison following his conviction for sexually assaulting a woman during a traffic stop. Jeffrey Scott Smith, aged 35, was found guilty of the assault and of obstructing justice by deactivating his body-worn and dash cameras to avoid capturing the crime. This case marks the first conviction under the enhanced penalties introduced by the 2022 Reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act for civil rights offenses involving sexual misconduct.
The trial revealed that on November 2, 2022, Smith conducted a traffic stop involving the victim, identified as K.H., and her then-boyfriend J.G. After discovering that J.G.'s license had expired, Smith issued him a speeding ticket and began asking personal questions. During this interaction, he turned off his body-worn camera.
Smith proceeded to search J.G.'s car after learning K.H. worked at a gentlemen's club. He found a marijuana cigarette in her purse but did not arrest or ticket her. Instead, he deactivated his dashboard camera before committing the assault inside his patrol vehicle.
United States Attorney Christopher J. Wilson for the Eastern District of Oklahoma commented on the case: "Smith’s despicable acts traumatized the victim and soiled the reputation of the law enforcement community." He expressed gratitude towards those involved in bringing Smith to justice.
Special Agent in Charge Doug Goodwater of the FBI Oklahoma City Field Office stated: "The entire law enforcement profession is disparaged when an officer betrays the oath to protect and serve." He praised the collaborative efforts of various agencies in ensuring accountability for Smith's actions.
The investigation was led by the FBI's Oklahoma City Field Office with support from the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation. The prosecution team included Trial Attorney Laura Gilson from the Civil Rights Division alongside Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nicole Paladino and Clay Compton for the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
