| The Brady Smith Case.com |
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Overall Summary of Case Brady Smith was the Dean of Students at Franklin Middle School in Champaign on May 20th, 2001, when he was caught on audiotape soliciting one of his 14-year-old boy students for sex. Since then, many boys and now-adult males have come forward describing sexual abuse from Smith, stretching as far back as 25 years. All of those who have come forward are African American. When the charges of sexual abuse were first brought forward, some people who knew Smith did not believe it. Brady is apparently a very charming guy - outgoing and personable, and seemed to have dedicated his life to helping troubled black teenagers. He was always getting them out of trouble, and buying them presents. Nonetheless, the evidence of his sexual abuse is very compelling, as is the audiotape of the solicitation. (See here for the allegations and a profile). As a dean of students, probation officer, and foster parent, he had easy access to a continuous stream of vulnerable black males, and he used his knowledge of and connections to the justice system to his advantage. He was able to operate within Unit 4 schools for 7 years without anyone in the district catching on. Five of those years were after a student had come forward claiming molestation from him. At least one boy reported molestation even after his mother had demanded a no-contact order between Smith and her son because of her suspicions. So how did the justice system respond to the allegations? John Piland, the State's Attorney responsible for his prosecution, assigned a friend of Smith's to the case, and Smith was subsequently allowed to plea bargain, despite the audiotape of the solicitation. In exchange for agreeing to a felony conviction , Smith:
Compare this to a recent case in nearby Livingston county of a teacher molesting girl students and getting life in prison. For the full story of Smith's plea bargain, with a transcript of the audiotape, click here. Smith eventually violated his probation on an ammunition charge, but Piland sat on the evidence for over 6 months before acting on it, during which time Smith was continuing to have illegal contact with black minors. Piland also got angry with the probation officer when the officer asked Piland to violate probation due to the illegal contact with minors. Smith was eventually put in prison for the ammunition charge, and is currently due to be released in February of 2005, after serving only one and a half years of a four year sentence. For the full story on the probation violation, see here. Piland has not brought charges against Smith for two other boys who came forward after the initial plea bargain alleging sexual abuse from Smith. He does not believe that any case that comes forward concerning abuse that happened before the plea bargain will have much merit, partly because he said he cannot bring in evidence from other offenses. This is not true. For a discussion of these issues, see here. Piland has a reputation as a very tough-on-crime prosecutor, and is typically very zealous in seeking maximum charges and sentences in prosecutions. For example, he once successfully prosecuted a man for stealing $43 worth of children's shoes for a prison term of 3 to 14 years. Under Piland, Champaign County can be known as a place where a black parent can get 3 years for stealing shoes for kids, while a white man can get probation for sexual offenses against black kids. Unless he violates probation - then he gets 4 years. Something doesn't add up here. The harm done by these crimes and John Piland's handling of them is not limited to the affected boys. The case has become a classic example of why African Americans have little faith in our justice system. It is an indictment of our entire community when terrible crimes against black kids are treated this way, and it contributes to racial tension and division within the community. For a discussion of the effects of this case on our community, see here. If this case bothers you, and you'd like to do something about it, but are not sure what, see here for a list of possible things you can do.
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