MOORE COUNTY, NC - A local Democratic Party leader in North Carolina resigned in disgrace this week after being arrested for ripping out and stealing roadside signs in support of former President Donald Trump, Fox News Digital reports.
Lowell Simon, the former chair of the Moore County Democratic Party and candidate for the North Carolina House next month, is accused of stealing the signs. He was charged with two counts of misdemeanor larceny of political signs.
In a Monday Facebook post, the Moore County Democratic Party announced that Simon, 68, had resigned as chair “following recent allegations and arrest related to the theft of political signs.”
According to the county’s sheriff’s office, a deputy was patrolling the West End area last Thursday at around 5:25 p.m. and witnessed Simon removing campaign signs from the roadside at Seven Lakes Drive in the county.
“The deputy, who was responding to an unrelated call at the time, later followed up at Simon’s residence, where the signs were found in his vehicle,” the sheriff’s office said. “Simon admitted to removing the signs, which were then recovered and returned to their original owner,” Fox News Digital reported.
An arrest warrant was issued for Simon on Saturday, and he was released on “a written promise to appear in court,” the sheriff’s office said. His first court appearance is scheduled for Oct. 30.
“While we appreciate the hard work and dedication he has shown to the Democratic Party and the community, the Moore County Democratic Party cannot and will not condone the tampering of political signs or any other illegal activity,” the party wrote on Facebook. “Mr. Simon has offered an apology for his actions, as well as his resignation, both of which have been accepted by the MCDP.”
WRAL in Raleigh spoke to Simon last week and said he regrets stealing the signs. He claimed that the signs allegedly obscured the signs he had placed along the stretch of Seven Lakes Drive.
“My worse angels got the better of me…I shouldn’t have done that,” he told the outlet.
The Democratic Party told WRAL, “As we move forward, our focus will remain on electing Democrats up and down the ballot in this critical election. Together, we are committed to promoting the values of justice, fairness, and freedom that our Party holds dear, and we look forward to building a better future for all in Moore County."
After Simon's arrest, Ronnie Fields, Moore County Sheriff, reminded the public that the removal or theft of campaign signs is a violation of North Carolina General Statute § 136-32(e), which protects the lawful placement of these signs during election periods.
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