KY man arrested after police say his Halloween decor threatens public officials
A Powell County man has been arrested after police say his Halloween decorations were perceived as a threat to several public officials.
Kentucky State Police began investigating the display Saturday at Court and North Main streets in Stanton after receiving a call about the decor from Commonwealth Attorney Miranda King, according to a police citation.
Police said the decorations were designed to look like five bodies in trash bags, one of which was labeled “District Judge” and was hanging by its “neck.” The other “bodies” were labeled “Mayor,” “SIS,” “C.A” and “Zoning Mgr,” according to the citation.
The property owner, Stephan Marcum, 58, has been charged with third-degree terroristic threatening and intimidating a witness in the legal process. He was taken to the Powell County Detention Center.
State police said they took photos of the display before taking the items in as evidence.
Court records show a special judge has been assigned to the case. District Judge Gary Salyers, who represents the 39th Judicial District, will be replaced by Judge William Roberts, of the 21st Judicial District in Rowan County.
Marcum has apparently been in a dispute with the city of Stanton over a nearby property in the 400 block of North Main Street.
The city said in a Facebook post Tuesday that Marcum had applied in August 2024 for a conditional use permit “to use the property as an art studio and reside in a portion of the building,” which the city granted, under several conditions.
However, the city said none of its conditions were met, “including failure to establish legal water, sewer, or electrical service.”
“These issues raised serious safety and public health concerns,” the city said, including possible fire hazards health and sanitation risks.
The city said in the Facebook post that the Board of Adjustments revoked the conditional use permit, and a criminal summons was issued “as is standard in the enforcement of zoning, building safety, and public health codes.”
The city said it was sharing the information to ensure transparency because of “some recent public concern” over the property and the city’s enforcement actions.
Salyers presided over a bench trial in the case Sept. 30 and found that Marcum had violated a city ordinance, Powell District Court records show. Sentencing was scheduled for Oct. 28.
