PHOENIX — A former Republican state representative from Arizona is facing multiple criminal charges for allegedly submitting fake signatures on his 2024 nomination paperwork, officials announced this week.
A state grand jury indicted Austin Smith on June 2 on 14 total counts, including four felonies and nine misdemeanors tied to the petition signatures he submitted during his failed attempt to run for reelection.
Smith, who previously represented District 29 — covering Surprise and parts of the West Valley — served one term in the Arizona House. He ended his 2024 reelection campaign in April, shortly after a lawsuit was filed challenging the authenticity of signatures on his nominating petitions submitted to the Secretary of State’s Office.
The most serious allegation, a class 5 felony, accuses Smith of engaging in a fraudulent scheme. He also faces three class 6 felony counts for allegedly filing false documents, as well as nine misdemeanors for reportedly signing other individuals’ names on his petitions.
This case follows a similar indictment from earlier this year involving a petition circulator tied to an abortion rights initiative, who also was accused of submitting fake signatures.
Authorities have not yet commented further on whether additional individuals could be implicated in Smith’s case.
