• Originally published May 28, 2008 at 9:56 a.m., updated May 28, 2008 at 9:56 a.m.

The grand jury Tuesday charged former City Attorney David A. Smith and Police Chief Bruce Ure each on five counts, four felonies and a misdemeanor.

The indictments charge:

Misuse of official information (felony)

Around Aug. 5, Smith and Ure released details of the Michael Lewis Ratcliff investigation to Victoria Advocate reporter Gabe Semenza before the city had made that information available to the public.

Aggravated perjury (felony)

Around Oct. 29, Smith denied while under oath to the grand jury giving any news outlet the content of grand jury subpoenas that dealt the investigation and prosecution of Ratcliff after he had admitted in a sworn statement to the grand jury to telling Victoria Advocate reporters details of the Ratcliff investigation and grand jury subpoenas.

Ure denied under oath giving information to anyone other than his “immediate supervisors and staff” in a sworn statement given to the grand jury.

Tampering with witness (felony)

Aug. 17, Smith and Ure coerced Ratcliff’s accuser to avoid meeting or talking with those leading the Ratcliff investigation and to communicate with only Police Chief Bruce Ure, then-Sgt. Ralph Buentello, or Smith.

Official oppression (misdemeanor)

Aug. 5, Smith and Ure used their office to deny and/or impede Department of Public Safety Sgt. Investigator John A. Schlinger in his investigation and prosecution of Ratcliff.

Criminal conspiracy (felony)

Aug. 5, Smith and Ure knowingly broke the law by doing the acts outlined in the other four counts.

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