10 Years Later, Former Senator Gets Felony Expunged

(Source: MIRS.news, Published 10/02/2026) Former Sen. Virgil Smith Jr. was granted an expungement today on a felony conviction that stemmed from his firing an AR-15 rifle into his ex-wife’s empty Mercedes-Benz after a confrontation between the two. She was upset over finding another woman at his house.

Wayne County Circuit Judge Charise Anderson granted the request. Smith also received an expungement last year for a misdemeanor conviction involving reckless discharge of a firearm, the announcement said.

The property destruction conviction stemmed from a May 2015 confrontation at Smith’s Detroit home. The former charge was for malicious destruction of property exceeding $20,000, according to an announcement from Smith.

Smith, then a Democratic senator representing Detroit, pleaded guilty to the property destruction charge in February 2016. His plea agreement called for his resignation, 10 months in jail and five years of probation in exchange for prosecutors dropping felony assault, felony firearms and misdemeanor domestic violence charges.

“I thank my attorneys, especially Robin McCoy, for handling the entire expungement process,” Smith said in today’s announcement. “I’ve been working really hard to get here one day at a time. I continue to work to be a positive voice for young Black males and I strive to continue to be a positive voice for my community.”