MONROE — Chris Narveson, Green County’s Highway Commissioner and chairman of the New Glarus Town Board, was convicted by a jury late last week of misdemeanor theft after a political opponent’s sign went missing.

The 62-year-old also was convicted last Friday of misdemeanor obstruction of justice, following a two-day jury trial that began on Thursday. Such minor cases rarely make it to trial. But given that this one involved a public servant and local politics as much as property, Narveson’s trial drew plenty of attention and required more than 50 potential jurors to report to the courthouse.

It was a clear-cut case of theft — with an eyewitness to the crime; District Attorney Laura Kohl told the jury and presiding Green County Circuit Judge Jane Bucher during the opening day of testimony.

“He (the witness) saw Mr. Narveson put his sign in his truck,” she said matter of factly, adding that the case was about not only taking an opponents’ yard sign, but deceiving police about the matter when they were called to investigate.

A neighbor living close to the property where the sign was placed — near the intersection of Zentner Road and Wis Hwy. 39 — told the court she noticed the sign missing from the roadside right away.

“The sign disappeared before election day, which I thought was weird,” said New Glarus resident Jessie Fink, herself an attorney in Madison.

Narveson has been the town board’s chair since 2015 and has been a member of the board for nearly two decades He handily defeated Rob Ready — the victim in the case and former Hazmat Team Leader for Madison Fire Department — to win reelection last April.

According to the March 24 criminal complaint, Ready said the owner had reportedly given him permission to place it.

That property owner described how Narveson stopped on March 22 to talk about his campaign. After engaging in a friendly conversation, Narveson then asked if he could place a sign. But the homeowner declined, and Narveson then left the property in his truck.

“(Victim 2) advised he had a ‘funny feeling’ and followed behind in his vehicle,” said the complaint. He advised that as he was just about cresting the hill, he observed Narveson’s black Dodge Ram truck pulled over and Narveson ‘throwing (Victim 1)’s sign in his truck’.

Contacted by police a short time later by phone, he allegedly denied taking the sign, and pleaded no contest after standing mute on the charges.

Much of the trial testimony focused on when the sign went missing — especially related to periods of windy weather that destroyed some campaign signs — when it was reported missing; and by whom.

Narveson’s defense attorney, Jonas Bednarek, emphasized throughout that there was more than enough reasonable doubt in the case for jurors to vote against a conviction.

Ready, who ultimately lost the Town Board race to the defendant by about 6 percentage points, took the stand during the trial, as did Narveson.

“We do have different visions, yes,” Ready told the court, when asked to characterize his relationship with the defendant.

For his part, Bednarek said an “affidavit” or memo memorializing the sign incident — written by the victim shortly after the sign went missing — was untruthful. And that a message displayed in court from Ready to Narveson asking him to return the sign was misleading.

“If a sign was not taken, he can’t bring one back,” barked Bednarek, during his cross examination of Ready.

Ron Roesslein, Patrolman and Weed Commissioner for the Town of New Glarus, testified that Ready had called him to find out whether a sign location was in compliance with local laws. He said he told the candidate what he tells others that have called:

“Keep it out of the right of way, that’s what everyone’s supposed to do and they don’t do it,” he said, adding that “I don’t keep track of everybody’s signs.”

With a conviction, each charge against Narveson could result in a maximum nine-month jail sentence and $10,000 fine.

Sentencing for Narveson is scheduled for September 8. Narveson remains free on bond, as Kohl declined to seek bond revocation following the jury verdict.