Easton Candidate Issued Larceny Summons After Opponent's Campaign Signs Go Missing

EASTON, CT — A Connecticut state representative seeking reelection was issued a misdemeanor larceny summons after police used an AirTag to track her opponent's missing campaign signs to her property, authorities said.

State Rep. Anne Hughes, a Democrat running for reelection in Connecticut's 135th House District, was issued the summons Friday, Oct. 30, for sixth-degree larceny.

According to an Oct. 31 press release from the Easton Police Department, officers received a complaint Oct. 30 from Darrell Harris' campaign, Hughes' Republican opponent, reporting that several political signs had been stolen from the roadside near Route 59 and Judd Road.

Investigators used an AirTag tracker to determine that at least one of the missing signs was located at a property owned by Hughes, police said.

During a follow-up investigation, Hughes returned several signs, including the one containing the AirTag, according to police.

Hughes acknowledged removing the signs and apologized for her actions in a Facebook post.

"Yesterday I removed lawn signs that shouldn’t have been on public property," Hughes wrote. "I apologize for removing them rather than contacting the police or my opponent’s campaign to remove them, and I take full responsibility and accountability for my actions."

Hughes said political campaigns should focus on issues rather than signs.

"Campaigns should be about issues and differences of ideas, not yard signs," she wrote. "I apologize for the distraction, and am committed to having civil discourse with my opponent for the duration of this campaign season."

The 135th House District includes Weston, Redding and part of Easton.

Police said the investigation was still ongoing as of Oct. 31 and that no further information was available at the time of the release.