NEWS

Package, restaurant address remain focus of drug trial

Bethany Bruner
Reporter

NEWARK - It could all come down to the letter A.

Whether or not Steven L. Smith's restaurant, Big Mommas' House of Chicken and Fish, is located at 50 N. 11th St. or 50A N. 11th St. in Newark has been the biggest argument point between attorneys in Smith's trial.

Steven Smith, right, owner of Big Momma's in Newark, charged with first degree felony possession and trafficking in cocaine, watches as his arrest video captured by a patrol car is displayed on a monitor Tuesday afternoon.

Smith is charged with one count each of possession and trafficking in cocaine, both first-degree felonies.

According to testimony offered by 16 witnesses, a package addressed to a Jonathan Smith at 50 N. 11th St. was intercepted by the Columbus Division of Police and a federal drug task force at a FedEx facility on July 9.

After searching the package, police officers reported they located a kilogram of cocaine in the package. The package was then delivered to Big Mommas' by undercover officers with the Columbus police and the Central Ohio Drug Enforcement task force.

The package was found in the back seat of Smith's vehicle, unopened, following a traffic stop, officials reported. The Newark Division of Police stopped the vehicle when police said they lost a short-wave radio signal from an alarm placed inside the package.

Two vehicles had left Big Mommas' about 45 minutes after the package was delivered and the alarm signal was lost shortly after, leading police to think the package had been moved.

Smith's attorney, Ray English, focused some of his cross-examination of prosecution witnesses on the actual address of the business. English had multiple witnesses read state-issued vending licenses showing Big Mommas' address as 50A N. 11th St.

Assistant Licking County Prosecutor Paula Sawyers had a CODE detective read a search warrant in court Wednesday. The warrant stated the other half of the building, what Smith contends is 50 N. 11th St., was "clearly empty."

English called five witnesses Tuesday afternoon in Smith's defense, including Smith himself. Smith's fiancee and mother both testified as well.

Smith told the jury about his past business ventures and alleged bad experiences with banks, which he testified prompted to keep his life savings at his home. Smith said the $50,000 police found in vacuum-sealed bags in a closet inside his home was sealed away so he wouldn't be tempted to spend any of it.

Smith also testified he had taken the package from the restaurant in an effort to clear space for an event Big Mommas' had planned. He said he never looked at the package label, did not open the package and was unaware of what was inside.

On cross-examination, Sawyers had a single question for Smith. She asked about a prior conviction for trafficking in drugs Smith had from 1992. When Smith admitted the conviction, Sawyers finished her examination.

English said he had one more witness to testify Thursday morning.

Sawyers will have the opportunity to present rebuttal evidence before the jury is handed the case to deliberate.

Judge David Branstool told the jury he expects them to begin deliberating sometime Thursday morning.