Chandler's OD Harris' political sign case is going to trial
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Chandler City Councilmember OD Harris' legal saga over allegations about the destruction of campaign signs opposing his re-election last year will go to trial after a judge denied a request to reschedule.
State of play: Harris faced misdemeanor charges last year related to the destruction of a campaign sign from a group called Vote Out OD Harris that sought to unseat him.
- A San Marcos Justice Court judge dismissed the case in October 2024, saying prosecutors lacked probable cause, but the Arizona Court of Appeals sent it back for a rehearing.
- The case was later transferred to Arcadia Biltmore Justice Court to avoid any conflicts of interest, per Scott Davis, a spokesperson for Maricopa County Justice Courts.
- Harris is charged with one count of tampering with a political sign and one count of damage to property, both Class 2 misdemeanors that carry penalties of up to four months in jail and $750 in fines.
The latest: Judge Leonore Driggs on Tuesday afternoon denied a a request by Harris' attorney Kenneth Countryman to reschedule the trial, now set to begin at 1pm Wednesday.
- Countryman last month asked the court to continue the trial, saying Harris couldn't appear for unspecified medical reasons. The prosecution objected in the absence of more specific information.
- A previous trial scheduled to start in late October was continued.
Catch up quick: The opposition campaign put up signs around Chandler last year accusing the councilmember, who is Black, of supporting critical race theory and being a "DEI hire" and tying him to the Black Lives Matter movement, the Arizona Republic reported.
- In a September 2024 report, Chandler police alleged Harris was the getaway driver after his wife and another woman destroyed a sign in late July.
- Harris denied the allegations and labeled the Chandler Police Department's findings a "biased report."
- He was re-elected in July.
Meanwhile, the anti-Harris campaign faces allegations that it violated campaign finance laws.
- In response to a complaint Harris filed last September, Chandler city clerk Dana DeLong found that the group failed to file as a political committee or submit campaign finance reports.
- Chandler referred the case to Tempe city prosecutors for possible enforcement.
The other side: Attorney Timothy La Sota, who represents Vote Out OD Harris committee member Lois Shugarr, told Axios that Chandler has no jurisdiction over his client as an individual and called the complaint retaliation by Harris.
- "I'm going to tell them to pound sand," La Sota said.