Police document in detail campaign treasurer’s involvement in sign thefts · the32789

New documents detail how four teens were offered money in exchange for stealing campaign signs and the resulting police investigation. Photo by: Jim Carchidi

More information about the theft of campaign signs supporting City Commission candidate Jason Johnson on March 21 and the involvement of a member of newly elected Commissioner Craig Russell’s campaign team is part of a recently released series of documents from the Winter Park Police Department.

According to Orange County Court documents filed April 30, Christopher Hoats, Russell’s campaign treasurer, is currently charged with misdemeanors, including two counts of contributing to the delinquency or maintenance of a minor and one count of petit theft. A heavily redacted Mach 21 police report describes how a group of teens allegedly removed signs supporting the Johnson campaign; However, additional information about the theft is described in a five-page Capias request detailing the incident and the resulting investigation for prosecutors. the32789 received the Capias request via a request to City of Winter Park Public Records for police reports related to the incident.

The Capias inquiry states that the teenage suspects told responding tenders that Hoats had approached them while they were skateboarding at a hair salon in Maitland. One of the suspects said Hoats “told them he was looking for people to take Jason Johnson signs for him in exchange for money.” Two of the suspects said Hoats gave them his Instagram account information and instructed them to send him a direct message after they took the signs. Officers were shown the Instagram account and the two teens later helped police identify the man who approached them based on a photo lineup.

The Capias request also includes an affidavit Hoats made on April 2 to detectives investigating the thefts. According to the statement, Hoats initially said he didn’t remember any youth skateboarding, but later said he remembered speaking to “possibly two of the skateboarders and asking where they were skateboarding while.” He was in a hairdressing salon in Maitland.” He also explained that he had spoken to the young people about a local election but that it was a “harmless conversation” and mentioned that his friend Craig Russell was standing in the election.

In the statement, Hoats says that one of the teens sent him (Hoats) his Instagram profile so he could follow his page. When asked why he would follow the side, Hoats replied: “To then say who to vote for and who not to vote for, that’s the opponent we’re up against, that’s our competition.” Hoats continued to deny , offering money for signs or being involved in the incident.

After speaking with Hoats, investigators attempted to contact Craig Russell, which led to a meeting on April 8. During their discussion, Russell explained that Hoats had informed him that teenagers had stolen Jason Johnson’s campaign signs and that he (Russell) had “given his campaign aides rules regarding political signs, including not touching other signs that were not His signs were.” The report also states that Russell repeatedly said that “there was no way Christopher Hoats would have sent the youths to pick up the signs and he believed his opponent’s supporters were involved in the incident.” .

Campaign finance documents list Hoats as treasurer in November 2023, while Russell’s wife, Kate Demory, is named deputy treasurer. Hoats’ signature appears on financial documents until a March 15 filing in which Demory’s signature appears on the remaining documents. Regarding Hoats’ change of status as campaign treasurer, the Capias request states that Russell told investigators that he (Russell) asked Hoats to resign during the runoff because Hoats had a busy schedule working for a CPA firm and “This includes amending election campaign documents to remove Christopher Hoats as treasurer.”

the32789 confirmed Hoats’ affiliation with a Maitland-based accounting firm.

The case was turned over to the district attorney and Hoats was summoned to an arraignment hearing on June 7. Hoats and Russell did not respond to requests for comment, but the Orlando Sentinel obtained an email statement from Russell and Demory in which they said they were “deeply concerned about recent allegations against a good friend and fellow educator.” they “want to raise the allegations”. It is clear that we are always committed to respecting ethical and legal obligations in everything we do. Neither we nor the campaign have been accused of any contrary behavior, nor are we aware of any such behavior.”

Jason Johnson, who is not involved in the incident investigation, told the32789 that he was aware of campaign sign thefts, but “when I learned that these minors were allegedly being offered money to take my signs, I was shocked. “

The case was turned over to the district attorney and Hoats was summoned to an arraignment hearing on June 7.