Randy Smith’s resignation was part of plea deal after attack on podcaster Bobby Couvillion at a Madisonville restaurant

Randy Smith’s resignation was part of plea deal after attack on podcaster Bobby Couvillion at a Madisonville restaurant

A suburban New Orleans sheriff who had held one of his community’s most prominent political offices for a decade has retired shortly after pleading guilty to battering a podcaster who often criticized him.

Randy Smith, 61, also agreed to serve more than a year of probation after admitting to a late May beating at a steakhouse where he had bought 18 alcoholic beverages on his tab on a Friday afternoon – which all but halted his four-decade policing career.

Smith had been sworn in as the elected sheriff of St Tammany parish, Louisiana, on 1 July 2016, succeeding a predecessor who eventually pleaded guilty to federal bribery charges and was separately convicted of serial child sexual molestation.

  • taco@anarchist.nexusEnglish
    104·
    3 days ago

    I have ignored hundreds of personal attacks directed at me by an individual who hides behind a computer screen,” Smith’s apology said.

    Smith was said to have approached Couvillion from behind while the latter man was seated on an elevated stool at the restaurant bar celebrating his 59th birthday with his wife. Smith then, without warning, placed Couvillion in a chokehold and slammed him to the ground backward

    Implying the guy’s cowardly for talking “behind a computer screen” (as though that’s not how most communication works in 2026) but also literally attacking the dude from behind. Whats a sensitive, hypocritical little bitch.

    • wonderingwanderer@sopuli.xyz
      7·
      3 days ago

      Also, as someone in a position of public office, he’s exposed to criticism and people have every right to direct criticism at him from behind their computer screens. That’s kind of what the whole first amendment is about…

      Also, that doesn’t read like an apology. It reads like he’s saying “That fucker deserved it and I’d do it again”

      • taco@anarchist.nexusEnglish
        1·
        2 days ago

        Absolutely was a check–the-box apology required either by the court or his attorney. He’d never write one of his own volition, as he clearly doesn’t understand their purpose and probably has never apologized without being forced in his life.