Man may face fine for marring campaign sign in own yard

HOMEDALE, Idaho – A southwestern Idaho man could face a maximum $1,000 fine and a year in jail after defacing a campaign sign he placed in his own front yard.

Tony Lopez, of Homedale, said he changed his mind about a candidate he initially agreed to support and altered the sign, adding a large black circle and a slash through the candidate’s name.

Lopez earlier this year agreed to display a placard promoting Owyhee County sheriff candidate Daryl Crandall. Crandall, now an Owyhee County sheriff’s deputy, is facing a write-in challenge from current Sheriff Gary Aman. Crandall beat Aman in the Republican primary in May.

Lopez said he switched his allegiance to Aman after observing officers from the Homedale Police Department attending pro-Crandall rallies while still in uniform. Though Lopez said Crandall assured him that the candidate would speak to the Homedale agency, which is separate from the county, Lopez felt the action was inappropriate.

He then opted to customize the yard sign to illustrate his change of heart.

Lopez said Crandall arrived in his driveway about two hours after he displayed the altered sign Saturday evening. Two Homedale officers and a reserve officer quickly came and told Lopez to remove it, Lopez said.

A 3rd District Court hearing on a charge of misdemeanor malicious injury to property is scheduled for next Wednesday, one day after the election.

“I thought I was exercising my freedom of expression and had no idea it would lead to court time,” Lopez told the Idaho Press-Tribune. “It sure turned into a big deal.”

The Idaho secretary of state’s elections office said that typically candidates are the owners of their campaign signs.

Crandall didn’t return a phone call from the Associated Press seeking comment. Aman declined to comment.

Since tangling with the law, Lopez has made his own plywood sign with the words “No Crandall” and a circle with a line through it. It is flanked by two signs in support of Aman.

Lopez said he plans to fight the misdemeanor charge. He said some local farmers and ranchers have already told him they’ll cover his fine if a judge orders him to pay.

“I’m flabbergasted,” he said Tuesday. “I really am.”