Domino mayor pleads not guilty

Mayor Al Campbell of Domino made a court appearance Wednesday, June 9 in regards to two misdemeanor crimes related to the 2020 presidential election. Campbell was arrested Nov. 18 of 2020 for alleged Abuse of Official Capacity and Unlawful Use of Funds for Political Advertising.

According to a probable cause affidavit, on or about Sept. 10, 2020, an investigation of Campbell began upon the request of the Cass County District Attorney’s Office after a politically charged letter written by Campbell was mailed to citizens of Domino who receive a city water bill. The contents included anti-Trump sentiments and language depicting President Trump negatively, encouraging voters not to re-elect him in the 2020 election.

A private citizen provided the letter for investigators to look at, which bore the name “Mayor Al Campbell” on the header of the document. A seal reading “City of Domino” was also found in the center of the document. The contents of the document included several negative comments about President Trump which were political in nature.

According to the affidavit, Mayor Campbell told investigators that he wrote the letter and that the newsletters were mailed with the city water bills but did not cost the city any extra money due to the water bills being mailed as “normal.”

Campbell confirmed that the envelopes and postage were used from the City of Domino City Hall Office.

If found guilty of the charges, Campbell could face up to 180 days in County Jail, a maximum fine of $2,000 or both for the Class B misdemeanor, Abuse of Official Capacity and a maximum of 365 days in County Jail, a maximum fine of $4,000 or both for Unlawful Use of Funds for Political Advertising—a Class A misdemeanor.

In County Judge Becky Wilbanks’ court on Wednesday, Campbell pleaded not guilty to the charges.