Spring Hill man could face charges after removing 244 political signs
SPRING HILL — Charges are pending against a Spring Hill man who removed 244 political signs from vacant lots throughout Hernando County and stacked them in his driveway, deputies said.
John Good, 50, reportedly told sheriff’s deputies he was tired of looking at them. The matter has been referred to the state attorney’s office.
John Good posted these photographs on his Facebook page of the signs that he had removed, with a caption that read “So this mornings community service netted me well over a hundred more signs to add to the hundred plus I removed yesterday, these signs ILLEGALLY PLACED ON VACANT LOTS ANDROID STREET CORNERS ARE NOT WHAT A POLITICAL SIGN IS DESIGNED FOR.THEY ARE POLUTION.” FACEBOOK
On Oct. 12, the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office received complaints from political candidates regarding missing campaign signs from various locations in Spring Hill.
Detective Derik Deso, assigned to the case, conducted the investigation and identified a suspect, John Good, 50, who lives off Essex Lane in Spring Hill.
Good made several posts to his Facebook account, asserting he was “cleaning up Hernando County” and was “removing political signs from vacant lots.”
Good also posted photographs on his Facebook page of the signs that he had removed, sheriff’s officials said.
Deso went to Good’s home and found more than 200 political signs stacked in the driveway. His wife, Pauline Good, said her husband had been taking the campaign signs and considered them an “eyesore” because they were placed on vacant lots, deputies reported.
Sheriff’s officials reported recovering 244 signs from Good’s residence. The signs backed candidates of all political parties, including Hamilton Hanson, Dan Oliver, Jeff Holcomb, Susan Duval, Dave Koller, Rose Rocco, James Scavetta, Jimmy Lodato, Wayne Dukes, Don Whiting, Mark Johnson, Robert Neuhausen, Brian Moore, Denise Lyn, Adrian Wyllie and Rick Scott.
Some Penny for Projects referendum signs also were recovered.
Good told sheriff’s deputies he removed the signs from vacant lots, sheriff’s officials said. He believed the candidates did not have permission to place the signs at those locations, and they were “illegally dumping.”
Deso confirmed the candidates did have permission to place campaign signs on the properties.
The total value of the stolen signs was $1,220, authorities said.
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