Jailed Senator Virgil Smith Expected To Resign By End Of Week
LNSING (WWJ) - A State Senator from Detroit who was ordered to jail for 10 months following a shooting incident involving his ex-wife is expected to resign from office by the end of the week.
An attorney for Virgil Smith attorney contacted Michigan Senate officials earlier this week and said Smith would resign by Friday, according to a report by Gongwer. Smith had previously indicated he would resign when he went to jail for shooting up his ex-wife's car during an argument last year.
If Smith doesn't voluntarily resign, Amber McCann, a spokesperson for Senate Majority Leader Arlan Meekhof, said the Senate "could begin the process for expulsion when we come back into session the week of April 11th. In terms of the expulsion process, a resolution would be introduced and referred to committee. A hearing would be held and then expulsion would require a vote of the senate."
Smith was sentenced to 10 months in jail and five years' probation for malicious destruction of property. Charges of domestic violence and assault were dropped. Along with his jail sentence, Smith was ordered undergo alcohol and drug counseling.
The 36-year-old was arrested last Spring at his Detroit home after allegedly assaulting his ex-wife, Anistia Thomas, and shooting up her parked Mercedes-Benz. He's accused of firing as many as ten shots the car in what authorities said was a domestic dispute, early last Mother's Day morning.
Thomas has said she had resumed an intimate relationship with Smith but found him with a naked woman.
Smith will have no chance for early release.
