2003 Media Releases:

CAMDEN COUNTY PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE
VINCENT P. SARUBBI, CAMDEN COUNTY PROSECUTOR
MEDIA   INFORMATION

March 27, 2003

Camden County Prosecutor Vincent P. Sarubbi and Collingswood Police Chief Thomas J. Garrity Jr. announced today that Douglass Smith, M/29, was arrested on Wednesday, March 26, 2003, and charged with four counts of Sexual Assault and four counts of Endangering the Welfare of a Child. The defendant is accused of exposing and touching his genitals in view of four girls, ages 11 and 12, on Tuesday, March 25, 2003, in Collingswood, N.J.

The offenses allegedly took place at approximately 8:15 a.m. in the area of Knight's Park, situated between Browning Road and Park and Collings avenues. All four girls are school safety patrol officers who were at their posts assisting other students walking to school. The investigation indicates that Smith committed the offenses while driving slowly past the girls in his silver Plymouth Neon. The girls were located in two separate locations - two on the northwest end of the park and two on the southeast end.

Smith, a respiratory therapist who lives in the 300 block of White Horse Pike in Oaklyn, was arrested without incident while driving in the same area at approximately 3 p.m. Wednesday. The victims had provided police with a description of the driver and vehicle, as well as a near-complete license plate number.

"These young victims deserve a great deal of credit for having the presence of mind in an upsetting situation to take notice of important information and report it to the proper authorities," Sarubbi said. "Their quick thinking and actions led to this arrest and may have prevented other young people from being victimized."

If convicted, Smith faces up to 10 years in New Jersey State Prison on each Sexual Assault charge, subject to the No Early Release Act, and up to five years on each Endangering charge.

Smith was lodged in the Camden County Correctional facility in lieu of $75,000 bail, cash or bond, set by Superior Court Judge William J. Cook.

All persons charged with criminal offenses are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.

Note: Douglass is the correct spelling of the defendant's first name.