Smed’s Place in trouble for underage beer sales

A local bar owner faces charges after he and an employee allegedly sold beer to an underage operative.

The owner of Smed’s Place, David C. Smedley, and employee Lorrie Beth Scott are both charged with selling beer to an underage person, a misdemeanor offense which technically could carry jail time. Most recently, however, in similar cases, the offense has led to fines of $750 plus court costs for each count.

The undercover operation targeting the Smithville Highway establishment came after police say they received several complaints about people under 21 being served alcohol there. In addition to police receiving complaints, an examination of the bar was recommended in open court recently by General Sessions Judge Larry Ross after he heard evidence in a case before the court that an underage person had been served alcohol at Smed’s.

According to McMinnville Police Capt. Derwin Adcock, the undercover buys were made by an underage male operative who police say was permitted inside the tavern despite being asked for his ID at least one time at the door. Adcock said the operative asked for and was served a beer on both occasions without being asked for ID at the bar.

The pair from Smed’s will appear before General Sessions Judge Larry Ross on Sept. 18. After their criminal case is completed, Smedley will be called before the McMinnville Beer Board for a hearing.

While his license could technically be suspended, the board has historically allowed first offenders to pay a fine in lieu of losing their beer license. In the city, suspensions and revocations of license have normally been reserved for multiple offenders.