Former Fairfield County Clerk, Husband To Serve Time For Theft

The husband of a former Fairfield County court clerk has been ordered to serve 90 days in jail and fined $4,000 after pleading guilty to theft in office. Authorities alleged David Smalley and former Fairfield County clerk Deborah Smalley stole thousands of dollars in salaries paid for work by county employees on her political campaigns. David Smalley, of Bloom Township, was sentenced Monday to 18 months in prison, with that sentence suspended as long as he stays out of trouble. He had pleaded guilty to theft in office and having an unlawful interest in a public contract. Other counts were dismissed. His attorney, Andrew Stevenson, says the jail time is longer than they hoped but is better than prison. Deborah Smalley also pleaded guilty. She was sentenced to 18 months in prison.