Block Island Teacher Pleads to Hit and Run

Unless otherwise noted, files at Washington County Superior Court contain the information about the following court cases. You can review them at the McGrath Judicial Complex.

Joshua Weisz Smith, 27, of Block Island, pleaded no contest on Feb. 1 to a New Shoreham police charge of reckless driving, which was amended from a felony charge of leaving the scene of an accident with injury resulting.

Smith was ordered to serve a year of probation, to complete 100 hours of community service and alcohol counseling, and to pay $250 to the Violent Crimes Indemnity Fund and $341 in assessments. In return for his plea, an additional charge of driving with a suspended license was dismissed.

According to court files, Smith is a Spanish teacher in the Block Island school system. A letter of support from Block Island schools superintendent Robert Hicks is included in court files.

According to New Shoreham police reports included in court files, in June 2012 witnesses told police that Smith’s truck hit a man 25-year-old man walking on the side of the road. The man suffered a concussion and bruises.

Police said that evidence at the scene – a broken side mirror – and statements from the witnesses led them to Smith’s home the next day. Police said damage to Smith’s truck was consistent with hitting someone.

According to police, a search of Smith’s truck revealed a mostly-empty case of Coors Lite beer, with cans of Coors Lite and Pabst Blue Ribbon inside. Police said an empty plastic container that smelled of marijuana was also taken from Smith’s truck.

Police said that when asked about the accident, Smith said he hadn’t stopped because he didn’t think he had hit anyone. He told police that he thought someone had thrown something at his truck.

According to online records, Smith does not have any previous arrests.

If we’re missing a case you’re interested in knowing about, feel free to leave a comment or to send Local Editor Stephen Greenwell a message at Stephen.greenwell@patch.com. We typically write up the summaries once a case has been resolved – a dismissal, a plea, or a guilty or not guilty finding.

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