A man accused of destroying a sign from the GOP\u2019s Oakland County headquarters has pleaded guilty to the crime.<\/p>\n
Kendrew William Groff, 23, entered his plea Wednesday before 48th District Judge Marc Barron on a misdemeanor charge of malicious mischief. Groff reportedly grabbed a sign advertising merchandise supporting President Donald Trump and the late Charlie Kirk, then threw it into Woodward Avenue, rendering it unusable. The crime, a violation of a Bloomfield Township ordinance, happened on Feb. 4.<\/p>\n
Sentencing is scheduled for April 8.<\/p>\n
This was the first of two crime-related incidents reported last month at the headquarters, located at 42611 Woodward Ave. in Bloomfield Township. On Feb. 20, a powdery substance was found in an envelope left outside the building. It was subsequently determined to be non-hazardous material, police said.<\/p>\n
And in a case from last November where the Republican Party was reportedly targeted, Ryan Vallance, 35, of Waterford Township is charged with false report of terrorism \u2014 a 20-year felony \u2014 for allegedly threatening to shoot up and set fire to the county\u2019s GOP headquarters, and allegedly threatening to kill Michigan GOP Youth Chair Krish Mathrani. He\u2019s accused of using Facebook messaging to threaten to use \u201cMolotov cocktails for MAGA,\u201d and to eradicate Republicans and their donors, officials said.<\/p>\n
Vallance is held in the Oakland County Jail with bond set at $100,000. His next court appearance is scheduled for March 30.<\/p>\n
In response to Groff\u2019s plea, Vance Patrick, chairman of Oakland County GOP stated:<\/p>\n
\u201cToday we welcome the news that Kendrew Groff has pleaded guilty to charges arising from his reckless and violent destruction of Oakland County Republican Party property that also endangered the lives and safety of innocent motorists traveling on Woodward Ave at the time of his reckless behavior. This act was not merely an attack on a building or equipment, this was an act of intimidation that terrorized our volunteers.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are grateful for the swift and thorough work of law enforcement in starting to bring this individual to justice. No one \u2014 regardless of political motivation \u2014 has the right to use violence and destruction to threaten our democratic process or the people who participate in it. The Oakland County Republican Party will not be intimidated. We remain committed to our mission and to the safety of every person who walks through our doors.\u201d<\/p>\n
As previously reported, the Oakland County GOP said it \u201creceives harassing phone calls, emails, social media messages, and other veiled threats on a daily basis,\u201d which prompted an extensive investment in heightened security measures.<\/p>\n
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