The organizer of “Red, White and Blue in the Loo” held July 3-4 at the Monroe County Fairgrounds in Waterloo was taken into custody Monday on multiple felony charges stemming from alleged financial improprieties associated with the event.

Summer C. Jackson, 44, of Waterloo, was arrested on a warrant for four felony charges related to this event. 

The first charge was theft of labor/services for “knowingly and unlawfully obtaining by deception” the services of Gregory Woolley, that being a fireworks display and all associated equipment, for Red, White and Blue in the Loo, “intending to obtain said services without compensation.”

Two other charges are for deceptive practice – one for causing Daniel Schwartz to execute a 24-hour insurance policy and another for delivering a check from the account of Crafts & More in the Loo LLC to Schwartz as an insurance agent in the amount of $2,300 as payment for an insurance policy for the event – “knowing that it would not be paid by the depository and thereafter failed to provide funds or credit with the deposit in the face amount of the check or order within seven days after receiving actual notice from the payee of the dishonor of the check.”

These three charges are all Class 4 felonies. 

The fourth charge, a Class 2 felony, alleges theft/unauthorized control for unlawfully obtaining control over U.S. currency with a total value in excess of $10,000 but not exceeding $100,000 “intending to deprive Rachel Abel permanently of the use and benefit of the property.”

Jackson was in custody Monday morning at the Monroe County Jail in Waterloo.

She was granted pre-trial release with extra conditions following a lengthy detention hearing held Tuesday afternoon at the courthouse.

In arguing for her continued detention, Monroe County State’s Attorney Ryan Webb claimed Jackson possessed a “high likelihood for flight risk” based on several facts obtained during pre-trial investigation.

In addition to having no verifiable employment or income, Webb noted Jackson had recently rented a U-Haul storage vehicle for a “one-way trip to New York” – presumably to relocate to the residence of her fiance, whom Webb described as a “co-defendant.”

That individual, 36-year-old Garrett P. Graham, was also charged Monday with felony deceptive practice for his alleged role in the event.

Graham, who is alleged to have written a bad check in the amount of $8,235 from the account of Crafts & More in the Loo to Roger Knedel in connection with the July event, was named on the rental contract.

It was divulged in court that the U-Haul was intended to be rented Monday – the day of the pair’s arrests.

Furthermore, Waterloo Police Department Detective Chad Nord testified in court Tuesday that Jackson had informed a WPD sergeant of her intentions to move to New York.

Prior to Jackson’s defense attorney Madelyn Daley’s arguments, a recess was allowed by Judge Chris Hitzemann to allow Jackson to update information in her pre-trial report.

According to Daley, Jackson took her advice to “not speak with law enforcement” to include not cooperating with the pre-trial investigation.

After a nearly one-hour recess, Daley argued Jackson is not a flight risk since she has two adult children who live in St. Clair County. 

She also noted Jackson is undergoing medical and mental health treatment in the area. Daley also noted Jackson has recently been diagnosed with breast cancer, and her treatments will be at Siteman Cancer Center in St. Louis.

Hitzemann admitted the situation was unique to the SAFE-T Act era in Illinois, with a Fifth Circuit judgment being the only precedent in the matter – although the cases were vastly different.

He also noted Jackson did not have a history of failing to appear in court in the past.

Hitzemann said he believed there were conditions which precluded detention in Jackson’s case.

As part of the extra pre-trial release conditions, Jackson signed a waiver of extradition to allow Monroe County officials to arrest her should she leave the state, although Jackson will be allowed to travel to Missouri for medical treatment.

Jackson is also required to wear a GPS monitoring device at all times and must report to county pre-trial services as needed.

A preliminary hearing is set for 1 p.m. Sept. 30 at the Monroe County Courthouse.

Graham was also granted pre-trial release Tuesday afternoon. He also signed a waiver of extradition and must also report to pre-trial services.  

The WPD investigated this case after taking multiple reports involving this event, the department stated in a Monday press release.

“If you believe you are a victim or have information to assist with this investigation, we urge you to come to the Waterloo Police Department, 301 S. Main Street, or call Monroe County dispatch at 618-939-8651, ext. 1, and speak with an officer,” the WPD stated in its release.

As first reported in the Aug. 13 Republic-Times, issues regarding “Red, White and Blue in the Loo” began bubbling to the surface in recent weeks after performers and vendors associated with the event complained of bounced checks and incomplete payments on social media.

When contacted for comment for the Aug. 13 article, Graham responded for Jackson by saying they had no response to the “false statements or harassment. That is what courtrooms and attorneys are for.”

For our earlier story related to suspicion surrounding Red, White and Blue in the Loo, click here.