Sen. John Huppenthal

Sen. John Huppenthal has been charged with criminal misdemeanors for cutting down an opposition campaign sign on Election Day last month.

The Chandler Republican is accused of theft and altering or destroying a political sign.

Huppenthal said he was given permission by the property owner to remove the sign.

"The sign itself was dishonest," he added. "I was acting honestly."

The charges stem from a confrontation between Huppenthal and Ruth Levin, a 78-year-old Democrat activist who told reporters and police that the senator cut down the sign and struggled with her over it before driving off in a car.

Levin reported the incident to Chandler police.

Huppenthal said the sign was a last minute hit piece "designed to stop me from responding."

"I felt I was going to lose this election and that whatever little chance I had of winning might be taken away by that sign," he said.

Huppenthal said he believes the sign backfired and probably helped him get more votes. But he said he would not have forgiven himself if he had not taken action on the sign and lost by a few votes. 

Records in Santan Justice Court show the complaint, filed by a Scottsdale city attorney, was originally submitted to Chandler but transferred when that court declared a conflict of interest. Huppenthal is a former Chandler councilman.

A justice court clerk said no hearing dates have been set.

If convicted, Huppenthal could receive a sentence of up to six months in jail, a $2,500 fine and up to three years' probation. However, no minimum sentence is required.

The message on the sign removed by Huppenthal called out the senator for his stance on legislation regarding Corona del Sol High School.

Last May, the Arizona Democratic Party filed an election complaint against Huppenthal, accusing him of withholding information about who had paid for automated calls to district residents. The calls related a message about how Huppenthal had helped arrange surgery for a child with a rare case of dwarfism.

Democrats contended the calls should have included a reference to the party that paid for them. But the Citizens Clean Elections Commission dismissed the complaint. Democrats claimed Huppenthal's calls were made in response to their own automated calls to residents in the district informing them that Huppenthal "voted against emergency funding to clean Corona del Sol High School."

The school's ventilation system had been linked to illnesses.

At the time, Huppenthal said he voted against legislation to provide the school with emergency funding because the measure was introduced as a floor amendment to a budget bill, and members of leadership do not support any amendments that have not been agreed to beforehand.

He maintained he had worked hard to solve the Tempe school's problem.

-The Associated Press contributed to this report.