Smith Twp. candidate to spend Tuesday behind bars

By David Skolnick

SEBRING — A Smith Township trustee candidate is to spend Election Day in jail.

Jeremiah Curtis, 23, pleaded guilty Thursday in Mahoning County Court in Sebring to a first-degree misdemeanor count of intimidation of a witness, according to court records.

Judge Diane Vettori found Curtis guilty and sentenced him to 180 days in the county jail with 170 days suspended, six months’ probation, a $1,000 fine and ordered him to serve 120 hours of community service.

Curtis began his 10-day sentence Thursday. Election Day is Tuesday.

Curtis was originally charged with a felony count of intimidation stemming from a Sept. 29 incident outside his Middletown Road home.

Police say Curtis used threatening language toward a Smith Township police detective called to Curtis’ home when the candidate refused to cooperate with a tree-cutting company trimming branches and limbs near power lines by his home.

Curtis was accused of repeatedly telling the detective that if he were elected trustee, the detective could be fired.

Curtis is among three candidates for two seats on the township’s board of trustees.

The other two candidates are both incumbents, R. Jerry Ritchie of Lake Park Boulevard and Dave Mannion of North 12th Street.

skolnick@vindy.com