The Valparaiso girl charged with a misdemeanor for allegedly defacing Commissioner Jim Biggs’ marketing campaign indicators is the previous director of the Memorial Opera Home, a county official confirmed Wednesday.
Megan E. Sutton, 42, was booked into Porter County Jail at 3:49 p.m. Tuesday, based on the jail roster. Sutton, who faces a Class A misdemeanor cost of prison mischief, has since been booked out of jail.
Sutton, based on an e-mail from the county’s human relations director Rhonda Younger, served as director of the opera home from Sept. 18, 2023, by way of Could 31, when she resigned. Her wage was $68,011.
“The director of the opera home reviews on to the board of commissioners,” Biggs, a Republican from Chesterton searching for his third consecutive time period as county commissioner, stated Wednesday. He beforehand served two phrases as commissioner and is a former county council member.
Sutton allegedly used spray paint to deface the indicators, with damages estimated at $900, based on charging paperwork. The indicators had been broken between Sept. 22 and Oct. 16, based on the costs.
Biggs stated in a cellphone interview on Oct. 23 that the entire indicators had been in Liberty Township and residents internet hosting the primary two indicators contacted him after they had been broken. These had been at County Street 900 North and Meridian Street, and 900 North and Calumet Avenue.
A witness contacted Biggs concerning the third signal, additionally on Calumet Avenue close to the 49er Drive-in, after he reportedly noticed somebody spray portray the signal throughout the street and went outdoors, recording together with his cellphone, and yelled on the particular person till they left, Biggs has stated.
The indicators had been defaced with crude language and imagery. Biggs stated he’s keen to drop the costs if Sutton will get counseling.
“Given her age and the art work she used on the indicators, there’s clearly issues there and I’m the least of them,” Biggs stated.
A particular prosecutor will probably be assigned to the case, based on on-line courtroom data. Sutton doesn’t but have an preliminary listening to date.
alavalley@chicagotribune.com
