Democrat Candidate Faces Felony Summons at Polk County Campaign Event

Lakesha Womack, a Democratic candidate running for North Carolina’s 14th Congressional District, was served a felony criminal summons during her campaign event in Polk County on Oct. 11. The summons relates to a 2019 rental car case, a development that has raised questions from political opponents and stirred controversy as the election approaches.

Details of the Criminal Summons Incident

Womack announced in a Facebook video that she was confronted by law enforcement about felony charges of failure to return a hired motor vehicle, stemming from an incident in 2019. The Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office confirmed to Fox News Digital that a deputy with the Polk County Sheriff’s Office served Womack the criminal summons on Oct. 11. While Womack said this occurred at her campaign event, the sheriff’s office did not confirm the location of the summons service.

Womack stated she only learned of the felony charges days prior to the event, despite court records showing the case was opened in January 2020. She recalled being informed about the charges during a meeting with the Gastonia NAACP branch shortly before the summons was served.

Womack’s Explanation and Personal Circumstances

In her account, Womack described a difficult period in 2019 when she was homeless and experienced a medical emergency requiring ICU care. During this time, her son was placed in foster care. After regaining custody, she said she lived in a hotel and struggled financially, including managing a rental car she could not afford.

Womack said, “I didn’t post that I was gonna be in Polk County, but they knew exactly what car I was driving. And as soon as I parked, they pulled up behind me and served my papers with my address from 2019.” She admitted in an Oct. 9 video that she owed money related to the rental car, stating, “But I just want you all to know that, you know, I do owe them people some money.” She added that she believed the issue had been resolved previously, but it was not.

She also explained that she could not have received the January 2020 summons earlier because of her unstable housing situation at that time. That video has since been deleted from her campaign Facebook page, and Womack has refrained from discussing specifics of the ongoing case in later videos.

Political Reactions and Implications

Rep. Tim Moore, the Republican incumbent currently holding the 14th District seat, criticized Womack’s situation through his campaign. His team said the incident “raises serious questions” and that Womack “owes voters an explanation, especially since her court date is one week after the election.”

Moore’s campaign added, “How is she going to be an advocate for our community when she can’t manage her own personal affairs? As an attorney for over 30 years, I think everyone should be held to the same standard of justice, and this situation is no different. Free legal advice: When the rental agreement ends, so does your right to keep the car.”

Legal Consequences and District Overview

If convicted of the felony charge of failing to return a hired motor vehicle, Womack could face a sentence ranging from four to 24 months in jail or an equivalent period of community service. The timing of the court date, scheduled one week after the election, adds uncertainty to the final outcome.

North Carolina’s 14th Congressional District encompasses areas from the suburbs of Charlotte to rural parts of the North Carolina foothills. It is currently represented by Rep. Tim Moore.

Womack’s campaign did not provide additional comments when contacted by Fox News Digital.

The incident brings heightened scrutiny to the race as voters prepare to head to the polls, underscoring the challenges candidates may face beyond the typical campaign trail.