CALDWELL COUNTY, NC — Officials say they have arrested and charged three high school students with stealing Trump-Pence campaign signs.
According to officials with Lenoir Police and the Caldwell County Sheriff’s Office, Aurora Solis, 17, of Hickory, Yamied Rueda, 16, of Newton, and Brandon Castorena, 16, of Conover were each charged with stealing political signs and possession of stolen property. Officials say they were all students at Newton-Conover High School in Catawba County.
Officers say an anonymous tip came in around noon Tuesday about someone in a silver Ford Focus driving along Highway 321 in Caldwell County and pulling up Trump-Pence campaign signs.
When deputies spotted the car they pulled the suspects and arrested the occupants after they admitted to stealing signs across the Unifour area. Officials say there were also 12 signs found in the car at the time of their arrest.
The investigation is ongoing, but Caldwell County Sheriff Alan Jones says, “We are here to enforce the law and protect the rights of all candidates.”
The teens are to be released into their parents custody sometime today.
