NC Democrat faces felony jail time over unpaid 2019 rental

Lakesha Womack, a Democratic candidate for North Carolina's 14th Congressional District, faces a potential prison sentence of up to two years for a 2019 car rental dispute.

The Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that Womack was served a criminal summons on Oct. 11 for felony failure to return a hired motor vehicle. A deputy from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office delivered the papers, though the sheriff's office did not confirm the service occurred specifically at a campaign event.

Womack stated in a Facebook video that she first learned of the charges days before the incident. She argued that the case, which records show was opened in January 2020, was missed because she was homeless and lacked a stable address at the time. She claimed the rental car was repossessed after she could not pay during a period when she was recovering from a medical incident in the ICU and her son was in foster care.

Her opponent, incumbent Republican Rep. Tim Moore, released a statement saying the incident raises serious questions about Womack's ability to manage personal affairs. Moore, who has practiced law for more than 30 years, argued that voters deserve an explanation because Womack's court date is scheduled for one week after the election. He noted that the rental agreement ended her right to keep the vehicle.

Womack acknowledged in a video posted on Oct. 9 that she owes money for the vehicle. She said she believed the issue had been resolved previously, but admitted it is not closed. She expressed frustration that authorities appeared to track her specific car to serve the papers, noting they used a 2019 address to locate her after seven years.

The candidate said she deleted the Oct. 9 video from her campaign page because she could not discuss an active case in subsequent posts. She described the financial strain of the period, mentioning buying dinner for her son at Dollar Tree while living in a hotel.

If found guilty, Womack could be sentenced to between four and 24 months behind bars or an equivalent period of community service. The 14th Congressional District covers areas from the Charlotte suburbs to the western North Carolina foothills.

Womack's campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital regarding the timing of the summons.