Rutledge announces conviction of Southwest Arkansas Mayor

LITTLE ROCK– Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge announced the conviction of Glenwood Mayor Billy T. Smith who pleaded guilty to a Class A misdemeanor of Theft of Property and Abuse of Office. Smith will pay restitution to the City of Glenwood in the amount of $3,000, a $250 fine and court costs. Billy Smith tendered his letter of immediate resignation as the Mayor of the City of Glenwood. In August 2021, the Attorney General’s Public Integrity Division revealed Smith hired a private company to transport $4,000 worth of asphalt millings from the Arkansas Highway 70 resurfacing project to his home and to the home of his son-in-law to resurface their private driveways.

“Mayor Smith was elected to serve the people of Glenwood and instead he chose to use his position to privately and financially benefit himself,” said Attorney General Rutledge. “I urge any Arkansans concerned with potential fraud committed by public officials to contact our public integrity division immediately.”

In February, Smith was arrested and charged with Felony Theft of Property, a class D Felony, in addition to Abuse of Office, also a class D Felony. He surrendered himself to Special Agents of the Attorney General’s Office at the Pike County Jail, where he was taken into custody. Smith was sworn in as Glenwood’s Mayor in January 2019.

The case was prosecuted by Pike County Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Alwin A. Smith in Circuit Court Judge Bryan Chessir’s courtroom.

Arkansans can report public corruption to the Public Integrity Division by calling 833-45-TRUST (833-458-7878) or email ARTrust@arkansasag.gov.