The Region - News from April 3, 1986

Riverside County Chief Coroner Carl B. Smith was charged with six felony counts of perjury and one count of obstruction of justice in connection with a district attorney’s investigation into alleged misconduct in office. The charges against Smith resulted from his testimony and the testimony of others in grand jury hearings “showing a scheme to cover up the deceptive and illegal falsification of job applications,” a spokesman for the district attorney’s office said. In addition, William Stinnett, supervising forensic embalmer for the coroner’s office, was charged with two felony counts of perjury before the grand jury and one count of conspiracy to obstruct justice, the spokesman said. Coroner William J. Dykes said that both Smith, 42, who has served 15 years with the coroner’s office, and Stinnett, 39, have been placed on paid leave pending a study of the charges.