A Kentucky man is facing criminal charges over his Halloween decorations. Authorities said Stephan Marcum’s display went beyond traditional ghosts and witches, portraying bodies of local officials in a manner they considered threatening.
The 58-year-old is accused of intimidating a witness in a legal process and making terroristic threats. Marcum lives in Stanton, Kentucky, a small town just outside of Lexington.
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Authorities cite threats and zoning violations
According to WLEX, Marcum is involved in an ongoing dispute with local officials over zoning violations, including alleged safety hazards related to fire, sanitation and public health. He has also been accused of not properly hooking up utilities on his property.
Kentucky State Police said they responded to a report of potential witness-threatening activity at Marcum’s home over the weekend, where they found five fake bodies in trash bags labeled with various titles.
One figure, labeled “District Judge,” was suspended with a rope around its neck. The other figures were labeled “Mayor,” “SIS,” “C.A.” and “Zoning Mgr.”
Last month, the district judge handling the case gave Marcum a $250 fine and 30 days to comply with the zoning violations, and police said the display appeared shortly afterward.
Neighbors raise concerns about property conditions
NBC News reported that Powell County Judge/Executive Eddie Barnes said he knows Marcum and that there is no prior history of him being a threat, but noted concerns about his property.
“There are these rules and regulations for a reason,” Barnes said.
Neighbors have also reported that Marcum would “use the bathroom in a bucket and just dump it out.”
Marcum’s court arraignment was postponed after Barnes recused himself, citing his involvement in the zoning case and the fact that one of the fake bodies was labeled “District Judge.”
In the meantime, Marcum is being held on a $5,000 bond at the Powell County Detention Center.
