Clearfield County Commissioner-elect Timothy J. Winters, 57, has been charged with theft for allegedly stealing a campaign sign from the Hyde Fire Hall. Winters, who recently won a commissioner seat in the election, is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on December 20. The Courier Express reported
Clearfield County Commissioner-elect Charged with Theft for Stealing Campaign Sign
Clearfield County Commissioner-elect, Timothy J. Winters, aged 57, residing in Hyde, has been formally charged with theft. The charges stem from the alleged act of stealing a campaign sign that had been prominently displayed in front of the Hyde Fire Hall.
The Clearfield Regional Police Department has charged Winters with theft by unlawful taking and receiving stolen property, both of which are classified as misdemeanors of the third degree. Additionally, Winters is also facing charges of illegally parking within 20 feet of a fire station, which is a summary offense.
Winters emerged victorious in the recent election, securing one of the three open commissioner seats by garnering an impressive total of 9,542 votes, the highest among all candidates, as reported earlier.
The affidavit of probable cause details the incident that occurred on the day following the election. At approximately 11:30 a.m., a supporter of the write-in candidacy of current Commissioner Mary Tatum filed a theft report with the Clearfield Regional Police Department. The complainant revealed that he had purchased a campaign sign stating “Vote Mary Tatum Commissioner” for $15 and had placed it next to the sidewalk near the entrance of the Hyde Fire Company Community Center, which served as a polling site.
Commissioner Tatum, who was running for re-election, had suffered defeat in the primary election. However, her supporters had initiated a write-in campaign on her behalf.
On Election Day, the complainant noticed that the campaign sign had mysteriously disappeared.
The complainant, who is a member of the Hyde Volunteer Fire Company, provided the police with surveillance footage captured by the fire company. The video clearly shows a burnt orange/red Toyota pickup truck arriving at the fire hall on Monday, November 6, at 11:23 p.m. The truck is parked parallel to the garage bay doors, and its license plate, registered under Winters’ name, is clearly visible.
According to the surveillance video, a man identified as Winters exited the pickup truck and proceeded towards the entrance of the community center. At 11:24 p.m., Winters approached the “Vote Mary Tatum Commissioner” sign and captured a photograph of it using his cell phone. He then walked away momentarily but returned to uproot the sign from the ground and placed it in the bed of his pickup truck before driving away.
Winters is expected to appear for a preliminary hearing on December 20 at 9:45 a.m. The hearing will take place at the Copper Cork Event Center before Magisterial District Judge Michael Morris, as stated in the court documents.
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