Coronavirus: Mother could go to jail after police say she hosted yard sale during stay-at-home order
Couple visited four times by authorities who warned actions broke lockdown regulations, police say
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Your support makes all the difference.A woman in Idaho who allegedly hosted a yard sale amidst coronavirus lockdown measures could face jail time after being issued a citation by local police.
Christa Thompson was issued the citation by Rathdrum Police Department after she refused on a number of occasions to discontinue a yard sale in her garden, police said.
Officials claimed they made four trips to the property to warn Ms Thompson that she was breaking governor Brad Little's stay-at-home order to stem the spread of the coronavirus by hosting a yard sale.
“This was a large non-essential yard sale that filled the entire front yard and spilled into the back yard as well,” Chief Tomi McLean wrote in a statement.
Idaho law states that a misdemeanour charge could result in a fine of up to $1,000 and up to six months in jail, according to the Idaho Freedom Foundation.
Thompson’s husband, Peter Thompson told the Coeur d’Alene Press that the family were just sorting through Ms Thompson's late father's belongings and selling some pieces to help support their family financially.
“They told us we couldn’t have a yard sale, that it violated the governor’s order. I asked them if we could sort some things out on the lawn, and if it was OK to sell a few things to some people,” Mr Thompson told the outlet.
They said, ‘Sure, as long as there’s no signs or advertising or anything like that. So we didn’t.’”
Police said between 9 April and 17 April the couple was given several instructions to shut down the yard sale and that the department had received a number of complaints from neighbours.
Chief McLean said that on the 13 April a posting on Craigslist stated that homeowners were having a yard sale at their residence.
Authorities said that when they returned to the home on 17 April a large number of items were still out in the front yard and sales transactions were occurring while police were present.
“I talked to my lawyer,” Mr Thompson told the Coeur d’Alene Press. “He said we’re not doing anything wrong. I don’t consider this a business, you know? We’re just sorting it and getting rid of it as we go.”
Gov Brad Little’s stay-home order, which was first issued in late March and renewed on 15 April states that residents must self isolate at home unless they are leaving to provide or access essential services.
All non-essential businesses must close for the duration of the order.
Residents in the state have been protesting the order, with more than 1,000 people attending a demonstration at the Idaho Statehouse last week in defiance of the governor's extension of the restrictions, KTBV reported.
Idaho currently has more than 1,700 confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus disease, with 64 deaths, according to the Idaho government website.
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