Steven Woods, a Prescott resident and the husband of Republican candidate for Yavapai County School Superintendent Kara Woods, was recently issued two misdemeanor criminal citations for knowingly removing a political sign and recklessly damaging the property of Woods’ political rival, Steve King.
A passerby first observed Steven Woods picking up one of King’s signs at the intersection of Glassford Hill Road and State Route 89A on the morning of Thursday, July 4, and proceeded to follow Woods to the intersection of Larry Caldwell Road and SR 89A, where he filmed Woods picking up another sign at approximately 11:30 a.m.
The passerby forwarded the video to King, who reported the crime to the Prescott Police Department before 3:30 p.m. The video shows an individual matching the description of Steven Woods walking away with a sign.
PPD identified the vehicle in the video as Steven Woods’ 2022 dark blue Chevrolet Silverado and PPD officers contacted Wood on the afternoon of Friday, July 5.
After being confronted with the video evidence, Woods retracted his initial denial of any involvement.
“I asked Steven Woods if he had moved any of the signs in the area,” the PPD report stated. “Steven Woods stated that he didn’t remember moving the signs. I explained to Steven Woods that we had been sent a video of someone removing political signs on the side of the road and that his vehicle was identified in the video. I also explained that a witness identified him as the person in the video. I asked Steven Woods to be honest with me and again asked him if he moved the signs. Steven Woods told me that he remembered moving one sign and throwing it on the other side of the ditch. While Steven Woods was talking I noticed his breathing became heavy and his voice became shaky.”
The removed sign was quickly replaced by two additional signs after King noted that one of his political signs was in a nearby ditch, the report noted.
Woods later arrived at the police station and signed his citation without incident.
While King originally called Prescott Valley Police Department to report the crime, as the witness did not want to testify and because King did not have video of the first alleged sign removal, he decided not to press charges.
“I am not aware of [Steven Woods] taking any other signs down except the one up on Glassford Hill,” King said when asked about the incident report’s claim that Woods previously removed King’s signs.
Although he has not been in contact with either Kara or Steven Woods about the charges, King described a previous interaction with Steven Woods as cordial and informative.
Steven Woods did not respond to a request for comment and Kara Woods initially did the same on the evening of July 10, but released a prepared statement shortly afterwards.
“Although a number of my signs for county school superintendent have been removed by unknown persons, neither I nor my husband condone the removal of anyone’s signs in a political campaign,” Kara Woods wrote.
“I’m glad her husband doesn’t condone it,” King responded. “I would be more glad if he didn’t do it.” It is illegal to remove, alter, deface or damage campaign signs under Arizona state law.
