Justin Champlin, the former chief deputy of Ascension Parish Assessor M.J. "Mert" Smiley Jr., was arrested Tuesday on counts of malfeasance in office, injuring public records and computer tampering, jail booking records say.
Champlin was a longtime aide to the four-term assessor and has played a key role in modernizing the department's recordkeeping and property assessment efforts.
Gonzales Police officers arrested Champlin and he was booked into the parish jail about 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, where he remained without bail.
Reached by phone, Smiley said Champlin is no longer with his office. The assessor declined to comment on Champlin's arrest.
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