Ex-Faulkner County sheriff candidate pleads guilty in election scam

A former candidate for Faulkner County sheriff has pleaded guilty to a federal charge stemming from an attempt to discredit a political rival by sending a false birth certificate through the mail.

Harold Allen Smith, 47, of Greenbrier pleaded guilty to one count of transferring a false birth certificate through the mail in a hearing before U.S. District Judge D. Price Marshall Jr., U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas Christopher Thyer said in a statement.

Last spring, when Smith was a candidate in the Republican primary for Faulkner County sheriff, he met with people to discuss ways to prevent Andy Shock from winning the primary, Thyer said.

The people suggested that Smith drop out of the race, start an anti-Shock campaign and send to voters a fake birth certificate meant to indicate that Shock had fathered an illegitimate black child, Thyer said.

After the conversations, Smith and another person drove to Hooks, Texas, where Smith mailed 12 envelopes containing the fake birth certificate and a note in each of them to prospective voters.

Shock went on to win the primary and the November general election.

Smith's sentencing date has not yet been set. He faces a maximum of 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

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