Ex-BLM manager who was charged with sex abuse commits suicide

A former field manager of the Bureau of Land Management's Kanab office who was scheduled to stand trial next month on charges of child sex abuse shot and killed himself Thursday after police arrived at his door with a warrant for a new charge. Rex Lee Smart, 60, was charged Thursday with witness tampering. Kanab police arrived at his house to serve an arrest warrant and a search warrant for his computer, on the belief that he had sent e-mails to a witness. "Officers made contact with Mr. Smart and advised him why they were there. Mr. Smart stepped into an adjacent office in the home to retrieve his shoes. After only seconds, Mr. Smart was able to gain access to a handgun and fire one round, hitting himself," according to a statement from Kanab police...more