Timothy J. Winters, who recently won a seat on the Clearfield County Board of Commissioners, has been charged with theft for stealing a sign supporting another commissioner. Winters, 57, was caught on surveillance footage removing the sign. He is facing misdemeanor theft and receiving stolen property charges. GantNews.com reported
After securing a seat on the Clearfield County Board of Commissioners, Timothy J. Winters found himself facing charges of theft the very next day. The incident involved Winters allegedly stealing a sign promoting Mary Tatum, a current commissioner who was not a candidate in the recent election. Surrounding signs encouraged residents to write-in Tatum’s name on the ballot.
Winters has been charged with theft, receiving stolen property, and a summary charge of illegal parking at a fire station. The victim reported to the police that he had paid $15 for the sign, which was placed near the entrance of the community center at the Hyde Volunteer Fire Company. Upon noticing its disappearance on November 7th, he reviewed surveillance footage and identified Winters as the culprit who removed the sign on the previous night.
The video footage, provided to the police, showed Winters’ pickup truck entering the parking lot at 11:23 p.m. and parking next to the fire department. Winters exited the vehicle and walked towards the community center’s entrance. He took a photo of the sign with his cell phone before pulling it out of the ground and placing it in the bed of his truck. Winters then drove away with the stolen sign.
Winters is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on December 20th at 9:45 a.m. at the Copper Cork Event Center. Despite the charges against him, Winters emerged as the top vote-getter in the commissioner’s race, along with incumbents John Sobel and Dave Glass.
It is worth noting that Mary Tatum, also a Republican, was appointed by President Judge Fredric J. Ammerman to complete the term of Tony Scotto, who resigned in October of the previous year. Tatum had previously lost in the spring primary election to both Winters and Sobel.
Overall, Winters’ election victory has been overshadowed by the theft charges, which will undoubtedly have an impact on his reputation and future endeavors as a commissioner..