St. Tammany Sheriff Randy Smith Pleads Guilty to 2 Charges, Resigns in Plea Deal

Q: Will a felon sheriff keep his full pension after brutally attacking a citizen?

Yes. Based on the reported plea deal and the available Louisiana-specific reporting, Randy Smith is expected to keep his pension. The key fact is that the plea agreement required Smith to retire, surrender his firearms and complete probation and a specialty court program, but the reporting explicitly says he “will not lose his pension.” Nothing in the provided material indicates Louisiana law automatically strips a sheriff’s retirement benefits because of this kind of felony conviction. Smith did plead guilty to felony second-degree battery and misdemeanor disturbing the peace after the May 29 attack on Bobby Couvillion at a Madisonville steakhouse. But the available coverage points to a different legal consequence: a felony conviction would force removal from office, not pension forfeiture. That is why retirement was part of the resolution. There is one caveat. The reporting says successful completion of the specialty court program could allow the felony to be reduced to simple battery or a misdemeanor, while failure would leave the felony in place. Even so, the coverage still states he will not lose his pension, suggesting the retirement benefit is not tied here to whether the conviction remains a felony. So, on the facts currently available, the answer is that the former sheriff keeps his full pension despite the assault conviction.

3 articles · Updated · FOX 8 Local First · Jun 25

Randy Smith entered guilty pleas to felony second-degree battery and misdemeanor disturbing the peace through public intoxication, then agreed to step down as St. Tammany sheriff by 1 p.m. Wednesday.
May 29 surveillance video at a Madisonville steakhouse captured Smith, after drinking multiple alcoholic beverages, approaching Robert “Bobby” Couvillion from behind, dragging him to the ground and striking him until others intervened.
Two years of probation and entry into the 21st Judicial District Court’s Specialty Court Program could allow Smith’s felony plea to be reduced to misdemeanor simple battery if he completes all four phases.
Bret Ibert was elevated to second-in-command and is serving as interim sheriff under state law, while prosecutors said the plea closes all criminal charges tied to the incident and will not affect Smith’s pension.
The case grew from Smith’s June 4 arrest over the restaurant assault on a frequent critic, triggered resignation calls, and landed days before voters decide on a sheriff’s office millage renewal.