A woman from Southern California has pleaded guilty over threatening deputies using mannequins. The woman reportedly hanged mannequins in different locations and engraved each with the deputies' names and drawn a bullseye target on it.
Sarah Stewart, 36 years old took a guilty plea to the charge of resisting an executive officer by means of threats and violence, CBS News reported. According to sheriff's reports filed in court in connection with the case, Stewart has an "extensive criminal history" and was "on parole convicted to burglary" at the time of her arrest in February.
The deputies responded to the reports of a seven mannequins hanged and displayed in random areas of the Crestline and Cedarpines Park communities on 18th of February, Gil Flores, the spokesman for the San Bernardino County sheriff's office said.
The court documents also stated that she has connection with the local white supremacists as well as drug dealers. According to San Bernardino County Sun, Stewart was seen driving a van loaded with the mannequins, authorities said. Statement from the witnesses also said, they have seen Stewart loading the said mannequins into the van, with the help of a 47 year old man named Erin Elder.
Stewart drove a rented U Haul van vehicle on February 17, placed the mannequins on various locations, such as stop signs, telephone poles and roadside guardrails, San Jose Mercury News reported. She then sent a message to Jason Averhart, a known member of the white supremacist gang and a dangerous drug dealer, informing him, she "had placed the things throughout the city that they had talked about," authorities said.
However, Stewart was not aware that Averhart was already in police custody for drug offenses allegations. Deputies read the text message Stewart sent to Averhart, who already turned his phone to the authorities. Averhart denies his involvement with Stewart's mannequin case.
According to the investigators, Stewart is attempting to win the respect of the gang. She was arrested and booked in West Valley Detention Center in Rancho Cucamonga and is facing four years in state prison.
