Dublin commissioner’s case to be handled by outside prosecutor

BLADEN COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — The case against a Dublin town commissioner and several co-defendants will be handled by a prosecutor from outside Bladen County.

Judge Ola Lewis today ordered that a lawsuit Jeffrey Smith and his wife filed against District Attorney Jon David and Sheriff Jim McVicker creates a conflict of interest for the DA in the criminal case. The order recuses the DA’s Office from the case.

The Smiths suit claims David and McVicker directed deputies to intentionally damage sweepstakes parlors the Smiths own during a raid last spring.

The order comes after a hearing Monday in which Smith’s attorneys wanted to move to have the criminal case thrown out due to prosecutorial vindictiveness and the stated planned to ask for Smith’s bond to be increased, according to the order.

David has called the civil suit against him “frivolous.”