Candidate for mayor in Boones Mill arrested on charges of indecent exposure and assault - Cardinal News

Oct 26, 2024

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Donald “Whitey” Taylor Jr., candidate for mayor in Boones Mill and owner of a store that exclusively sells merchandise related to former President Donald Trump, was arrested on multiple charges of assault, battery and indecent exposure on Tuesday.

Taylor faces three charges of misdemeanor simple assault and one charge of misdemeanor indecent exposure. All four charges were taken out by citizens through the Franklin County Magistrate’s Office and were not a result of any investigation by law enforcement, the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement on Thursday.

Taylor was processed and released on bond. His arraignment is slated for Oct. 30 at 8:30 a.m. in the Franklin County General District Court.

Three different victims alleged that Taylor had physically and verbally abused them and had, in some cases, withheld pay from them.

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One of the victims alleged that, on Oct. 18, Taylor called her into a stock room when she asked him for her paycheck. There, he asked her for a hug, grabbed her by the breast and commented on her body, according to a criminal complaint filed with the Franklin County Magistrate’s Office.

Another victim alleged that, on Oct. 15, Taylor grabbed her by the arm and “shoved” his hand down her pants while restraining her in the hallway at the back of a store, according to a criminal complaint filed with the Franklin County Magistrate’s Office. The name of the store where the incident took place is not disclosed in the report. That same victim alleged that Taylor had not paid her for her work during the weeks of Oct. 6 and Oct. 14.

A third victim alleged that, on Sept. 26, Taylor called her to the back of the “Trump store,” where he exposed himself to her and asked for oral sex, according to a criminal complaint filed with the Franklin County Magistrate’s Office. That same victim accused Taylor of grabbing her buttocks on Oct. 13 when she asked him for her paycheck, according to the complaint.

All three victims alleged that Taylor had called them names and yelled at them repeatedly. The criminal complaints were obtained from the Franklin County General District Court clerk’s office.

Taylor, who was arrested at his store, Trump Town USA, said he believes the allegations against him are politically motivated, according to a report by WDBJ7. He also told the television news station that the three women who filed the complaints against him work at his store.

He called the allegations against him “fake news” and “election interference” in a phone call on Thursday.

“It’s not true,” he said. “The timing, don’t you see it’s suspicious, right now? I’ve never had anything like this in my life, and it all happens because I’m running for mayor.”

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Boones Mill Mayor Victor Conner, who Taylor is running against, said he did not think that the criminal complaints and charges brought against his opponent are politically motivated, based on the dates that the offenses allegedly occurred.

“My thoughts and prayers are with the victims that have brought these charges forward. It takes a lot of strength and courage to come forward with something of this magnitude,” Conner said via email on Thursday. “I found out about this just like everyone else, through the news media. I will not comment on my opponent’s behavior. I will not stoop to that level to undermine my opponent or anyone else.”

An investigator has been assigned to the case, and, as of Thursday, the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office was in the process of reaching out to the victims, Sergeant Megan Huston, public information officer for the sheriff’s office, said.

“It’s three different victims that are saying that this is occurring,” she said. “It’s public interest, and we want to make sure we’re investigating it and making sure everything’s taken care of.”

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Elizabeth Beyer is our Richmond-based state politics and government reporter. More by Elizabeth Beyer