A Columbia County man who assaulted a woman and recorded it while she was sleeping has been sentenced to three years in prison.
Jimmy Edward Smith Jr., now 24, was arrested in January 2023 and charged with felony sodomy, aggravated sexual battery and unlawful surveillance.
The Dec. 17, 2022 incident took place in Martinez. The victim reportedly had formerly been in a relationship with Smith, who worked for a tire service.
Smith entered an Alford plea to the sodomy charge. That’s when a defendant maintains their innocence but admits the prosecution has enough evidence for a conviction. Prosecutors agreed not to prosecute charges of aggravated sexual battery and invasion of privacy.
He was sentenced Nov. 18 by Chief Columbia County Superior Court Judge Sheryl Jolly to six years for sodomy, with the first three to be spent in prison with possible credit for time served, according to sentencing documents. He was expected to turn himself in Monday at the Columbia County Jail.
After his prison sentence, Smith is allowed to serve the remainder of time on probation. He may have no contact with the victim and arrange visitation with a minor child through a third party.
Smith was sentenced under special conditions for a dangerous sexual offender. He is instructed to not consume alcohol and drugs or association with anyone who uses or possesses illegal drugs.
