Effingham chalk messages bring trespass charges

Two Effingham County residents have been charged with criminal trespass and were booked into jail over chalk messages written in the parking lot of a county building. The case stems from public outrage over the planned OpenAI data center and illustrates the turbulent space between freedom of speech, partisan allegiance and local politics. Browse Data Centers & Coastal Georgia Stories on projects, policy, legislation See more Ivy Gibbins and Evan Karp both face charges of misdemeanor criminal trespass, according to the Springfield Police Department. Each was booked into the county jail for a few hours Thursday and left on bonds of $1,300 apiece, according to jail records. Chalk messages, including one laced with profanity, were captured on a surveillance video at the government center in Springfield on Aug. 29, as county commissioners met inside. One message referred to County Commissioner Roger Burdette with an epithet, while inside, residents angry over the surprise announcement of an OpenAI data center expressed their displeasure at the commissioners. Burdette, a Republican, complained to the sheriff about the chalk, the Effingham Herald has reported, and Gibbins, who heads the Effingham County Democratic Committee was accused of writing the profane message. Karp declined comment via text message to The Current GA. Gibbins has not responded to requests for comment. Under Georgia law, criminal trespass is defined as intentionally damaging another person's property ($500 or less), knowingly interfering with property use without consent, or entering/remaining on land, vehicles, or structures without authority. Under Georgia law, the Springfield Municipal Court could have charged bond as little as zero dollars for first-offense trespass. State law requires that misdemeanor bail should not be 'excessive' and should only impose conditions reasonably necessary to ensure public safety and to ensure the person comes back for their court date.