A former campaign manager for Ventura County Supervisor Jeff Gorell has been arrested on suspicion of vandalism charges involving election signs.
The Ventura County Sheriff's Office arrested and booked a 25-year-old suspect into jail on Aug. 3, records show. The man was later released on bail, and the booking information listed a suspected offense of vandalism over $400 with a court date on Aug. 18.
The incident was reported sometime late June 1 or early June 2, authorities said. Someone vandalized several campaign signs in the city of Thousand Oaks, and an investigation led to the suspect, the sheriff's office reported.
Gorell, who was reelected in June, confirmed that the man had been a manager for his campaign.
"I was notified on Monday that
a young man who worked as a manager on my recent re-election campaign has been accused of vandalism toward another candidate's campaign signage back in June," Gorell said, in a statement emailed to The Star.
Gorell said the allegations came as a shock, and if true, the conduct is unacceptable. The supervisor said he does not condone that type of behavior or illegal activity of any kind, and as a former prosecutor, he was confident that the allegations would be appropriately addressed through the legal process.
"Based on my experience with him, this is not what I would have expected of him, making this news all the more saddening and disappointing," Gorell said. "I hope that whatever the outcome, this does not define the course of his life."
Cheri Carlson covers the environment and county government for the Ventura County Star. Reach her at cheri.carlson@vcstar.com.
This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Authorities arrest former campaign manager suspected of vandalism
