Douglas County Jury Convicts Man of Killing Jeweler
11/25/2008
PRESS RELEASE RELEASE DATE: 11/24/08 CONTACT INFO: Charles Branson Douglas County District Attorney 785-841-0211 cbranson@douglas-county.com Douglas County District Attorney Charles Branson announces former Topeka resident Allen D. Smith, 37, was convicted today of first degree murder and aggravated burglary for his role in the April 2005 shooting of 77 year old, Lecompton resident Clarence D. Boose. Smith's jury trial began Monday, November 17th in the Division Four Courtroom. Testimony continued throughout the entire week, closing arguments were made this morning and the case went to the jury around 11:30 a.m. The jury deliberated for a little over four hours before returning its verdict. The Douglas County Sheriff's Office was called to the victim's rural home by the victim's long-time girlfriend. After being unable to reach the victim by telephone for a good part of the day, the friend drove to the victim's home where she found him shot to death in the kitchen of his home. After extensive detective work by the Sheriff's Department, it was discovered that Smith and his cousin Leonard Price had burglarized multiple homes in the rural areas surrounding Shawnee County for several days before and after Boose was killed. Price pled to first degree murder for his role in the crime on February 13, 2007. "I have to credit the Sheriff's Department for their work in this case. They worked tirelessly for months and without their work, we would not have been successful, Branson said. This was the second jury trial for Smith. His first jury trial which began on July 28th was declared a mistrial when jurors were unable to reach a unanimous decision. Smith faces life in the custody of the Kansas Department of Corrections. He will be sentenced on January 7, 2009 at 3:00 p.m. in Division Four. The Honorable Michael J. Malone presided over the case. It was prosecuted by District Attorney Charles Branson and Chief Assistant District Attorney Amy McGowan.
Related Links:
Douglas County District Attorney - http://www.dgcoda.com
Media Contact:
Cheryl L. Wright-Assistant to the District Attorney
District Attorney's Office
785-841-0211
cwright@douglas-county.com