By Terri Harber

Grays Harbor Newspaper Group

A judge in Aberdeen Municipal Court decided Tuesday the misdemeanor case against outgoing Grays Harbor County Commissioner Frank Gordon will be moved to Thurston County.

Gordon pleaded not guilty last month to defacing political advertising. His defense attorney, Jack Micheau, asked Pro Tem Judge Christopher Coker to grant motion seeking a change of venue and Coker agreed.

The next court date for the case is in Aberdeen on Jan. 18 at 3:30 p.m. At that time, Coker will reassign the case to a Thurston County judge as well as provide a date and time for Gordon to appear.

Micheau also filed motions to remove the attorney with the Prosecutor’s Office, which was denied. Micheau’s motion to review the video record is going to be allowed, however, and will happen before the end of the year, according to court documents.

The misdemeanor charge against Gordon is punishable by up to 90 days in jail and/or a fine of up to $1,000. In September, Gordon was accused of stealing the campaign signs of his political challenger, Randy Ross, who beat Gordon in the General Election. Gordon is a Democrat and Ross is an independent.

Gordon has denied his actions were theft. He said he was moving signs that had fallen to the ground to a location where someone in his opponent’s campaign could place them elsewhere.