Politics

Six charged with stealing Democratic campaign signs

By Lightning Reports, Published: October 26, 2020

Hendersonville police officers issued citations to six people on Sunday for the theft of campaign signs for Democratic candidates.

The incident occurred in the area in front of Steinmart on Greenville Highway at White Street at approximately 8:51 p.m. An investigation led to the discovery of 10 Democratic Party signs being removed from their original locations.

The following individuals have been charged with stealing, defacing, vandalizing or unlawfully removing a campaign sign, a class 3 misdemeanor that is punishable by a up to 20 days in jail and a fine of up to $200. 

Charged were Dillon Ray Wilkie, 19; Katelynn Marie Kaufhold, 20; Gina Lynn Kaufhold, 49; Taylor Kaufhold Gengo, 25; and Chance Devon Gengo, 28, all of Hendersonville; and Cameron Michael Brackett, 18, of Fletcher.
The political signs were collected by officers, who arranged to return them to the Henderson County Democratic Party. Laurel Park police assisted the Hendersonville Police Department in the investigation. The Police Department said in a news release that it takes seriously the theft or vandalism of political signs and encourages the public to report illegal activity by calling (828) 697-3025 or by contacting their local law enforcement agency.

Two Democratic Party activists told the Hendersonville Lightning police caught the six people in a black pickup truck containing two dozen Biden-Harris signs and numerous Moe Davis for Congress signs.

"I'm glad they were caught," Henderson County Democratic Party Chair Kathleen Gould said. "There's a lot going on and what am I supposed to think of it? It's deplorable that they've done it and I hope the people that did the damage to Republican signs are equally caught because it's not acceptable behavior."

Sign warfare and even violence have escalated this election season as vandals defaced Republican Party signs at the party's headquarters on Oct. 9 and someone threw a plastic jug of water at Jeep flying a Trump flag in a "Republican ride" on Brevard Road in Asheville, endangering a family from Hendersonville.