NILES WOMEN FOUND GUILTY IN CASS COUNTY COURT

CASSOPOLIS – A case with its roots in last year’s presidential election was concluded recently in Cass County District Court. Niles resident Helen Thurston told Cass District Court Judge Stacey Rentfrow that the 2016 election made her “crazy” and led her to steal Donald Trump campaign signs last fall.
Thurston, 50, of South 17th Street in Niles, was sentenced recently in Cass District Court after pleading guilty to one count of larceny under $200. District Judge Rentfrow ordered her to pay $300 in fines and costs.
The incident occurred Oct. 27 in a subdivision off David Drive in Silver Creek Township near Dowagiac. Thurston was delivering newspapers in the early hours of that day at the same time she was taking Trump signs she came across as she drove through the area.
Thurston acknowledged that she didn’t have permission to be on people’s lawns that day or to take their political signs. “I’m so sorry,” she said. “During that period, I was out of my mind. The political season had me crazy. I can’t believe I did it.”
The prosecution of the case was handled by Assistant Prosecutor Cortney O’Malley of the Berrien County Prosecutor’s Office after Cass County Prosecutor Victor Fitz recused himself and his office from the case. Fitz is the head of the Cass County Republican Party.
In court, O’Malley called it a “one time incident” and felt that a sentence of fines and costs was appropriate. As part of the plea agreement, O’Malley dismissed a second count of larceny under $200 for taking other Trump signs during the same time period.
Rentfrow agreed. “This is the type of charge where I could place you on probation for rehabilitation or to provide services, but I don’t see this as a case where it is necessary,” she said. “It really sounds quite juvenile. You got overly charged by the political process, trespassed and took signs.”
Thurston told police last fall that she believed that Trump “does the Devil’s work.” “Trump’s a Devil and against women and I guess I should have attended a protest rally instead,” she said.
Silver Creek Township police began investigating the theft of political signs last fall after getting complaints of several signs stolen over several weeks. Police also received videos and still photos from township resident David Pilot who was among those having signs stolen.
On the date in question, police positioned themselves in and around the subdivision and observed her taking signs. They then found the signs inside her motor vehicle.