Brian Nichols' alleged hostage to receive portion of reward

<p>The woman who made the call that led to the arrest of suspected courthouse gunman Brian Nichols has two-thirds of her promised reward coming to her, but the FBI is reticent regarding its portion of the money.</p><p>"The process to determine who the rightful recipients of the reward is or are is ongoing," said bureau spokesman Steve Lazarus Wednesday. "We are not going to discuss the process or give a timetable."</p><p>Lazarus said the FBI would not release any further information about its $20,000 contribution to the reward.</p><p>However, three other agencies are ready to pony up $40,000 of the $60,000 reward.</p><p>Ashley Smith, the 26-year-old single mother who was reportedly held hostage for seven hours by Nichols on Saturday morning, could receive her $10,000 from the governor's office as soon as Wednesday, though a spokesman there said the reward may be presented after the victims' families have had time to mourn.</p><p>Police said Smith was approached by Nichols outside her apartment in a north Atlanta suburb early Saturday morning. The suspected gunman held her hostage for seven hours before letting her go. Smith immediately called police.</p><p>"In my opinion, she absolutely deserves it and we're ready to pay up now," said Gov. Sonny Perdue, whose office offered the maximum allowed under state law.</p><p>The Georgia Sheriffs' Association Inc. echoed the governor's sentiments, but executive vice president Terry Norris said his office is still trying to determine how to present the money to her. The association is waiting to see if a formal presentation is being planned.</p><p>"She'll receive it. We haven't decided when she will receive it," Norris said.</p><p>The U.S. Marshals Service, which offered $25,000, is prepared to give its portion to Smith, too.</p><p>The service first needed information showing "she was, in fact, the one that gave the information leading to his arrest," said U.S. Marshal Dick Mecum. "Reports indicate she was the one.</p><p>"The marshals office has already cut the check. It's just a matter of releasing it."</p><p>Mecum said he could not speak for the FBI, but that when agencies offer rewards they sometimes wait until the suspect is convicted to issue the check. This way, there is no chance of the jurors in the case getting the impression that a material witness was paid off to testify.</p><p>"The defense attorney can always twist that in some other way," Norris said, adding that the U.S. Marshals Service reward did not contain such a caveat.</p><p>"Our reward was for someone giving information that led to his arrest. To me, Ashley Smith has done that," he said.</p>

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