Former DA Wins Apology, Money From Putnam Sheriff, County

PUTNAM COUNTY, NY — Putnam Sheriff Donald Smith has retracted his statements about former Putnam District Attorney Adam Levy and withdrawn a lawsuit against him. It's part of a settlement announced Tuesday of the defamation lawsuit Levy brought against Smith in 2013. The fight between Levy and Smith included the latter's charge that the former had harbored an illegal alien and interfered with an investigation and the former's charge that the latter was a liar.

Smith admitted he made false statements about Levy after arresting his personal trainer for child rape. Alexandru Hossu, an undocumented Romanian immigrant, was acquitted in 2014. Hossu's subsequent $45 million lawsuit against Smith and Putnam County is moving forward in the courts.

In addition to the retraction, Levy also won $150,000, according to the Putnam County Courier. The county's insurance will pay most of that.

Reporter Eric Gross wrote, "The shocking chain of events is a complete victory for Levy, and marks a stunning admission for Smith." The settlement was announced Tuesday during the jury trial, the paper reported.

Levy said Smith had done it to influence the 2015 election, and that county voters should remember that in November, when he is on the ballot again.

According to the New York Daily News, Levy's mother, Judge Judy (Scheindlin) said in a statement that her son “won his hard fought battle for his integrity, his honesty, his reputation and his honor. Most of all Adam won his battle for the truth.”

SEE ALSO:

• Southeast-Brewster Election 2015 Results: Levy Concedes
  
• DA: Sheriff Provided 'Erroneous' Address in Rape Case
  
• Levy: Putnam Sheriff's Allegations Are 'Unfounded'
  
• Smith on Rape Case: Politics Won't Shake Focus
  
• Rape Case: Putnam DA, Sheriff Clash Over Address, Recusal