Randy Smith's law enforcement career ended not with fanfare but with a plea deal and a forced resignation. The 61-year-old sheriff of St Tammany Parish, a suburban New Orleans jurisdiction of 280,000 residents, admitted in court on Wednesday to beating a podcaster who had made a habit of questioning his leadership.
The incident unfolded on May 29 at Keith Young's Steakhouse in Madisonville. Bobby Couvillion, a 59-year-old social media personality and podcaster known for local commentary, was celebrating his birthday at the bar when Smith arrived. Couvillion had frequently criticized the sheriff online, calling him corrupt and incompetent. According to eyewitness accounts and an investigation by Louisiana Bureau of Investigation agents, Smith approached Couvillion from behind and placed him in a chokehold, then slammed him backward onto the ground.
The assault escalated. Smith punched the fallen Couvillion and kicked him repeatedly in the face and body. "I'm going to kill you, you motherfucker," Smith allegedly shouted. "You're a dead motherfucker." Medical records documented that Couvillion sustained a concussion and two displaced front teeth. He was taken to a hospital for treatment.
Deputies responding to emergency calls at the restaurant quickly recognized a problem: the suspect was their boss. The St Tammany Sheriff's Office recused itself, handing the investigation to state agents. Records from the evening painted a stark picture: Smith's party's bill totaled $346 and included five glasses of wine, four vodka martinis, eight vodkas, and one gin.
Law enforcement arrested Smith on June 4 on charges of second-degree battery and disturbing the peace. Investigators also charged Gregory Saurage, a bail bondsman, with encouraging the attack and driving Smith away from the scene at the sheriff's request. After posting a $10,000 bond, Smith issued a written apology that sidestepped naming Couvillion directly but clearly referenced him: "I have ignored hundreds of personal attacks directed at me by an individual who hides behind a computer screen."
Six local judges recused themselves from the case. On Wednesday, Judge Reginald Badeaux presided as Smith entered guilty pleas to felony second-degree battery and misdemeanor disturbing the peace by public intoxication. The agreed sentence: 15 to 18 months of probation. Crucially, Smith's resignation was a condition of the plea agreement with prosecutors.
Smith's departure ended a 33-year tenure with the St Tammany Sheriff's Office. He had served as sheriff since July 2016, succeeding a predecessor convicted of federal bribery and child sexual molestation. His third four-year term was underway when the May incident occurred. Smith also spent six years as police chief in the St Tammany city of Slidell before becoming sheriff.
Chief Deputy Bret Ibert assumed acting sheriff duties, tasked with maintaining stability until voters elect a permanent successor. The sheriff's office enters the transition with a strong financial position: approximately $60 million in surplus funds as of the end of June 2025. A ballot measure scheduled for Saturday will ask parish voters to renew a tax that generates more than $13 million annually for the agency. Some officials hope Smith's retirement improves chances for the tax renewal.
District Attorney Collin Sims emphasized that the prosecution underscored accountability regardless of rank. "Everyone will be held accountable for their actions, regardless of your title," Sims said. "We didn't want to have special treatment of the sheriff. We treat him like we treat every other citizen that commits an act like that." Sims had previously convicted former St Tammany Sheriff Jack Strain of child rape five years earlier, resulting in a life sentence.
Couvillion released a statement Wednesday expressing relief that "justice was not swept under the rug simply because of who was involved."
Author James Rodriguez: "A sheriff who couldn't control himself lost the authority to control others, and a podcaster who played watchdog proved the system still works when it matters most."
Comments