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Levy settled his defamation lawsuit with Smith on Tuesday, the second day of trial, for $150,000 and an apology. Levy sued Smith after Smith said Levy publicly interfered in his investigation of Levy's personal trainer Alexander Hossu for raping a 13-year-old girl.
Hossu was later charged and acquitted. Smith also said Hossu lived with Levy and that Levy should be investigated for harboring an illegal alien. Smith retracted those statements Tuesday in a letter posted on the Putnam County Sheriff's Department website.
"These press releases, which I approved, received considerable attention and caused you embarrassment," Smith said. "Today, I retract these releases unequivocally and apologize for the statements contained therein.
"These statements were untrue and I should not have made them. Throughout your career, you prosecuted all manner of cases and I apologize for conveying anything, to the contrary."
Smith said he hoped the two could put this chapter behind them. Smith will pay $25,000 of the settlement, with the county paying the rest.
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