Free Republic

State Sen. Ada Smith - the Wild Woman of Albany - was convicted yesterday of throwing coffee at an aide. The Queens Democrat had denied the assault and rejected an offer of a plea deal. She was convicted by Albany City Judge William Carter after a nonjury trial. Smith will not serve jail time, but was required to pay a $250 fine and restitution to be determined by Sept. 29. She was accused of throwing the coffee in the eyes of then-staffer Jennifer Jackson of Albany in March after Jackson made a remark about the senator's attempt to lose weight....

ALBANY State Senator Ada Smith has been found guilty of harassment stemming from an altercation with a staffer. The Queens Democrat was accused of throwing hot coffee in a staffer's face at her Albany office in March. She was also accused of pulling a hairpiece from the woman's head. Smith was originally charged with misdemeanor assault, but the charged was reduced to harassment, a violation, in July. Smith will have to pay a $250 fine and any medical expenses for the former staffer, Jennifer Jackson. She will also have to enroll in anger management courses. Jackson says she feels justice...

The story as posted by NY1.com, datelined August 10th, is:Assault Charges Against State Senator Are Downgraded Criminal charges against a state senator accused of assaulting a staffer in her Albany office have now been downgraded. Ada Smith is accused of throwing hot coffee in her employee's face after she made a comment about the senator's weight loss. In April, Smith, from Queens, pleaded not guilty to misdemeanor assault charges, but on Friday Smith's lawyer said charges were reduced to harassment. Smith pleaded not guilty to that charge, which carries a maximum penalty of 15 days in jail. Chuck Shepherd had...

March 27, 2006 -- STATE Senate officials are considering an unprecedented "censure" vote against violence-prone Queens Democratic Sen. Ada Smith, who was charged last week with throwing hot coffee in the face of an aide. As soon as the latest charge against the erratic Smith became public, Senate officials began researching the possibility of expelling or "impeaching" Smith, but concluded that state law does not allow such dramatic action, a senior Senate official said. State law does require the expulsion of a legislator convicted of a felony, but the latest charge against Smith - like one involving a confrontation with...