Eaton County inmate dead after 'medical emergency'

CHARLOTTE - An Eaton County jail inmate died Sunday at a local hospital after suffering a "medical emergency" Saturday at the jail, officials said.

Roy Cass Smith, 60, of Grand Ledge, was inside his cell when deputies noticed he was in "medical distress" around 10:50 a.m. Saturday, said Eaton County Undersheriff Jeffrey Cook.

Cook said Smith's cause of death was "potentially cardiac related" but did not know the precise cause. He said officials do not suspect foul play or suicide.

Smith's death was "purely a medical issue," he said.

"Our deputies certainly made every effort to provide the proper medical treatment," Cook said. "If you saw the response from our deputies you’d be proud."

Smith was charged Nov. 8 with 10 counts of criminal sexual conduct, court records show. He was jailed with bond set at $5 million.

On Nov. 20, Judge Julie Reincke pushed back a planned preliminary examination and ordered Smith to undergo a competency exam and criminal responsibility evaluation at the state's Center for Forensic Psychiatry. He was scheduled to be seen on Dec. 20, Cook said.

Smith faced up to life in prison on the charges, which court records show involved four underage victims.

Smith's attorney, who had requested the competency evaluation, did not immediately respond Tuesday to a message left seeking comment.

Contact Christopher Haxel at 517-377-1261 or chaxel@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @ChrisHaxel.