Image Credit: Wilson County Conservative Republicans / Facebook & Wilson County Republican Party of TN / Facebook
The Tennessee Conservative [By Paula Gomes] –
A rash of political signs being vandalized or stolen in Wilson County, Tennessee, has led to a cash reward for information about who is responsible.
The Wilson County Republican Party (WCRP) has put out a call to the general public asking for help in finding the vandals and thieves behind the incidents, offering a $1,500 cash reward.
The first person to come forward with credible information about those behind the vandalization of the large 4-by-8 foot signs that leads to an arrest and conviction will be offered the money.
The campaign signs for former President Donald Trump and his running partner JD Vance were located in both Lebanon and Mt. Juliet according to WCRP Chair Brad Lytle. One sign in Mt. Juliet was stolen, and four others have been defaced. One more sign in Lebanon was also stolen.
Fed up with the repeated incidents, Lytle hopes the reward will be enough for someone to decide to turn in the culprits. Originally, a $200 reward, Lytle says that many people chipped in to raise the reward to the substantial amount of $1,500.
According to former State Senator Mae Beavers and WCRP member, one of the signs located along Lebanon Road near Dunkin’ Donuts was defaced with spray paint and then subsequently fixed.
That same sign was later vandalized again when the first letter in “Trump” was carved out. The sign was then spray painted once more sometime early on Tuesday morning with the words “rapist” and “felon.”
A different sign located at the corner of East Division and North Mt. Juliet Road received similar treatment when the word “felon” was painted over the names of the Republican ticket.
While it is not uncommon for campaign signs to be stolen, prosecutions for the Class C misdemeanor do not happen nearly as often.
Local law enforcement are aware of the crimes and currently investigating the incidents, according to District Attorney General Jason Lawson.
A Tennessee Representative for Collierville, Curry Todd, was arrested in 2016 for the theft of his opponent’s campaign signs. Police officers came into possession of videos that showed Todd running with Mark Lovell’s signs under his arms. Todd would argue later that he had permission to take them.
According to Lawson, both vandalism of a political sign and stealing signs are classified as a misdemeanor within the state. If found guilty, a defendant can face up to 11 months and 29 days in prison and up to $2,500 in fines.
About the Author: Paula Gomes is a Tennessee resident and reporter for The Tennessee Conservative. You can reach Paula at paula@tennesseeconservativenews.com.
3 Responses
It’s funny how the demonrats say they are the party of tolerance. And yet they are the ones who seek and destroy everything. Just like their father satan. Remember the summer of love how they looted, murderer and burned down cities. You didn’t see people on the right doing that.
In God we trust not government or man.
Have a blessed day.
I was going to say close to the same thing. I have seen a couple of Harris signs and not once thought Hey I am going to vandalize that sign. Me not voting for her and her party and others that are doesn’t make me want to commit criminal acts. It just blows my mind.
I have the perfect response…
Everyone that is irritated at this type of crap, here is the solution: Go down to your personal early voting location and Vote for Trump (and against every socialist on the ballot). Then make sure that everyone you talk to that is irritated does the same thing. Then the sign doesn’t even matter.
Once we get the Marxist / Socialists out of power, then we can restore law and order; and hopefully these types of idiots will face accountability.