The trial of a Moreno Valley teacher accused of using his home computer and the Internet to interfere with an investigation and endangering a law enforcement officer will begin today in Corona.

The case involving the teacher, Jeffrey Allan Smith, was moved from the Superior Court in Riverside because Corona had the room available for a trial. Jury selection is scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m.

Smith, 35, is accused of illegally targeting an investigator with the Riverside County district attorney's office who had investigated his anti-racism World Wide Web site, causing the investigator to fear for his safety and that of his family. Smith is charged with obstructing or interfering with a peace officer trying to perform his duties.

Smith caught the attention of the district attorney's office because he posted a profile about alleged neo-Nazis and skinheads that law enforcement agencies considered confidential.

The charges stem from Smith requesting through the Internet information on an investigator for the district attorney, which the investigator, Bernie Skiles, said caused himn to fear for his safety and that of his family.

Published 9/23/1998