Wyatt Earp was a horse thief before becoming a lawman think about that when you read this article

Carl Boyd won the Democratic nomination in March for a subcircuit judge post in Cook County and is a shoo-in for the November election because he is running unopposed. But first he must deal with a trial late this month — his own. He faces a misdemeanor charge of allegedly stealing the campaign signs of a primary rival in the middle of the night.

Boyd, a veteran Chicago attorney, was arrested by Chicago police about 2 a.m. the day before the March 20 primary while allegedly in the possession of a dozen signs promoting the campaign of primary rival Chester Slaughter.

The arrest garnered no public attention, and the next day Boyd won in a landslide over Slaughter and two other candidates with more than half the vote.

In a telephone interview Monday, Boyd acknowledged his arrest but denied any wrongdoing.

"I can tell you that the police officer stated that this would make for a great story," he told the Tribune. "But he certainly did not see me pick up one sign. That much is true."

Boyd said he believes the police report was fabricated, but he wouldn't explain why.

"At this point, I would certainly appreciate an opportunity to have this matter heard in the appropriate forum, which would be the court," he said.

One of his lawyers, Steven Watkins, described Boyd as "a great guy."

"We do expect to be acquitted of the charge," Watkins said.

According to a police report, a Chicago police sergeant spotted Boyd removing Slaughter campaign signs from Boyd's parked 2000 BMW and placing them in his trunk near 119th and Halsted streets early on March 19.

Police reported recovering 12 of Slaughter's campaign signs from Boyd's car.

Boyd was arrested on a misdemeanor theft charge, booked at the Calumet District police lockup and released later in the morning after posting $200 in cash for bail.

The next day, Boyd swept to victory, garnering more than 19,000 votes, more than his three opponents' combined tally, according to the Illinois Board of Elections. Slaughter finished last with just 12 percent of the vote.

Slaughter declined to comment, but another rival, Arthur Wesley Willis, was incredulous on learning of the charge from a Tribune reporter.

"He was arrested?" Willis said. "All I can say is that I'm shocked."

Told generally of the charge against a judicial candidate, James Grogan, deputy administrator of the Illinois Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission, said he couldn't remember a similar case.

Boyd, who has been practicing law in Illinois since 1991, has never been disciplined, records show.

Dane Ciolino, a law professor at Loyola University in New Orleans who specializes in legal and judicial ethics, said that even though Boyd was charged with a misdemeanor offense, he could face "significant" problems with legal disciplinary officials. Boyd could be suspended from practicing law or if he wins election as judge, he could be removed from office, Ciolino said.