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A Recall petition against St. Tammany Parish Coroner Christopher Tape has officially been filed according to the Louisiana Secretary of State’s office.

Organizers have 180 days to collect over 37,00 signatures, at which point a vote to remove Tape will be held in the Parish. If enough signatures are collected, the Governor can choose to put forth an election proclamation and the recall can be added to the ballot.

Tape took office on March 25 of this year and has received significant pushback from politicians and citizens because of charges filed against him in New Mexico over 20 years ago.

 

In 2002, Tape was indicted on 6 charges of child sexual assault stemming from allegations that he forced himself on a 12-year-old girl. The case was dismissed nine months later after the court determined that his right to a speedy trial had been violated. State prosecutors appealed the dismissal of the case but to date, Tape has not been officially charged.

Supporters of the petition have had signs printed which will direct citizens to areas where signatures will be collected, and plan to run television ads to garner support.