Man investigated for stealing 138 campaign signs

A Renton man is suspected of stealing 138 campaign signs.

The investigation began on Sept. 28 when, Marcie Maxwell, a candidate for 41st District state representative, reported to Newcastle police that two different people saw someone removing her campaign signs from along the Maple Valley Highway and in the cities of Newcastle and Bellevue.

The two witnesses wrote down the license plate number of the car the man was seen driving.

Deputies with the King County Sheriff's Office contacted the husband of the registered owner of the vehicle and recovered 138 signs, most of them for Maxwell. He was not arrested, but the case has been forwarded to the prosecutor's office.

Sheriff's spokesman Sgt. John Urquhart said the 43-year-old Renton man is expected to be charged with eight counts of removing or defacing political advertising.

Urquhart said there was no obvious political motive.

However, since they were mostly Maxwell signs, he has to assume that the man "has something against her."

"We don't really know if he had a political motive or if he just had something against yard signs," Urquhart said. "We don't really care, to be honest. We do care, however, about stealing yard signs and anytime we can come up with a suspect we will refer charges."

If convicted on the misdemeanor charges, he could face a fine of up to $1,000 and 90 days in jail for each count of theft.

Christine Clarridge: 206-464-8983 or cclarridge@seattletimes.com