A St. Clair County man serving a prison term in Taylorville has filed a lawsuit claiming malicious prosecution by an assistant state attorney.
Gary Smith filed a lawsuit July 24, 2015, in St. Clair County Circuit Court against Assistant State's Attorney James Gregory Piper Jr. and the county citing malicious behavior.
The suit claims Piper practiced mischievous manner and falsified paperwork when dealing with Smith, who was improperly subjected to judicial proceedings of being a child sex offender to which there was no probable cause. The suit claims Piper caused personal injury to Smith and members of his family as well as friends in accusing him of criminal activity for which there was no substantial merit.
Smith is seeking damages of $5 million and demands a published retraction by Piper for personal injury to Smith and his family and friends.
Smith is representing himself pro se at the Taylorville Correctional Center in Taylorville, Illinois.
St. Clair County Circuit Court case No. 15-L-423.