Jerry Kerley and Bill Harwell face sign theft charges in court Thursday November 10.

Jerry Lee Kerley and William Frank Harwell are both on the docket for General Session Court on Thursday November 10.

Both men face a single count of theft up to $500 each for the incident that occurred on September 30, 2016. The charges stem from the report of a theft of political signs from a house on Mockingbird Drive where a neighbor captured video of the two men leaving the house and then followed them long enough to get a license tag showing the truck involved was registered to Jesse Kerley's father Jerry, the city's director of water resources.

Still from the neighbor's video of the alleged theft. 

The signs were part of an ongoing feud between councilman Kerley and J. R. Blankenship. Some of the signs accused Councilman Jesse Kerley of lying and abuse of office.

Political signs are Mockingbird Drive location before theft.

The charges were filed by District Attorney investigator Randal Slayton. The missing signs were recovered at the Crossville airport according to District Attorney General Bryant Dunaway. Airport security video showed the two men leaving the airport just prior to the incident and then returning a short time after and immediately driving out of camera range.

Both men are represented by attorney Jimmy Smith.  

Previous Story on sign theft incident.

Airport Security Video Story. 

City of Crossville has "no comment" on theft charge involving employee and airport.

Jerry Kerley and William Harwell face political signs theft charges in General Sessions Court October 31

Summonses on theft charges have been issued to Jerry Kerley, father of Crossville city councilman Jesse Kerley and director of water resources for the city of Crossville along with the man who allegedly accompanied him to Mockingbird Drive where the men were caught on tape after allegedly taking political signs from the yard.

Frame capture from neighbor's video.  The full video is below.

William Harwell was also charged in the incident in the affidavits signed by district attorney's investigator Randal Slayton.  The charge against both men is theft of property less then $500.  Both men are set for an initial appearance date in general session court on October 31, 2016.

The signs taken had Kerley's name on most of them and accused the councilman of being a "liar," "trash," and "abuse of office." The missing signs have reportedly been returned to owner Randy Blankenship.

Mockingbird Drive signs before the theft.

The facts according to the statement of Mr. Slayton are:  "Jerry Kerley/William Harwell have committed the offense of theft of property by knowingly obtaining and exercising and exercising control over property of another without the owner's effective consent with intent to deprive.  On 9/30/2016 Jerry Kerley intended to deprive Randy Blankenship of his property when he took signs, valued at less then $500, from Randy Blankenship at 279 Mockingbird Drive, Crossville, Cumberland County, Tennessee and exercised control over the property withing Randy Blankenship's effective consent.  I therefore charge the above with theft of property under $500."

EXCLUSIVE video shot by neighbor

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Some of the important information you read on our pages:

1. Exclusive video of the assault hearing on Councilman Jesse Kerley and first to report that the charge was dismissed
2. The only news source to obtain the video of the theft of signs at the Mockingbird Drive residence.
3. Exclusive interview with Crossville councilwoman Pamala Harris on her view of the council “circus.”
4. The first and only news source to publish the documents that were removed from interim city manager Steve Hill's personnel file at his order from his time as director of Parks and Recreation.
5. First news source to report Rod Shoap has applied for the city manager position.