Vegas Man Penalized for Discarding Campaign Signs in Highway Showdown

A Las Vegas man has pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges stemming from an incident involving the unauthorized removal of campaign signs in Lake Havasu City. The event occurred on October 27 at the intersection of West Acoma Boulevard and State Route 95, where witnesses observed 30-year-old Ryne G. Valles Santos dismantling these signs and propelling them onto the roadway.

Santos was seen initially placing the signs against a nearby traffic light before returning to destroy them. According to reports, he shattered the signs with his hands and hurled the remains into the street. Witnesses noted his aggressive behavior, including making offensive gestures and beckoning someone to approach him.

Law enforcement officials quickly identified and located Santos, who matched the descriptions given by eyewitnesses. During questioning, he attributed his actions to familial conflicts and feelings of being targeted by a political party. He ultimately confessed to vandalizing the campaign signs.

Santos faced multiple charges, including disorderly conduct, criminal littering, and knowingly removing or defacing political signs. The damaged signs featured endorsements for notable figures such as presidential candidate Donald Trump, as well as various local candidates.

On Friday, in Lake Havasu Municipal Court, Santos pleaded guilty specifically to the charge of defacing a political sign. The other charges were dismissed, and he was subsequently fined $732.

This incident marks the second case of political sign vandalism in the area since September. Earlier, 67-year-old Barbara Lumpkin, a former candidate for the Lake Havasu Unified School District Board, faced similar charges for removing Democratic signs from a homeowner’s property. Her case remains unresolved as of this week, with a trial or plea still pending.