Arlington Heights couple pleads not guilty to vandalizing Republican headquarters

An Arlington Heights couple charged with vandalizing the Wheeling Township Republican headquarters earlier this year pleaded not guilty Tuesday in a Cook County courtroom filled with GOP supporters.

Brock McNerney, a 72-year-old retired financial planner, and Moisette McNerney, a 69-year-old retired special education teacher, face misdemeanor criminal damage to property and criminal defacement of property charges stemming from the Jan. 25 vandalism.

Video surveillance captured two people drawing swastikas and profanities on the windows and tossing feces and an unknown liquid on the front door of the office in the 900 block of Rand Road in Arlington Heights.

Some of the markings in permanent black ink defaced a portrait of Charlie Kirk, the slain conservative activist who was born in Arlington Heights and volunteered at the GOP office as a Wheeling High School student years ago.

Police arrested the McNerneys on March 23, after authorities said information from the public helped investigators identify them as the suspected vandals.

The couple pleaded not guilty before Judge Steven Kozicki at the county courthouse in Rolling Meadows and are due back in court May 15.

“My clients are seniors who have never been arrested in their lives,” said defense attorney Jason Stevens.

Wheeling Township Republican Committeeman John Saletta said he and his supporters — which numbered several dozen in court Tuesday afternoon — will continue to follow the case against the McNerneys.

“We’re going to let the legal process take it from here,” he said following the hearing.

“Their conduct was unacceptable,” Saletta added, describing the vandalism as “an attempt to stifle political speech.”