State Police are investigating a strange tale in Southern Maryland.

Among the events authorities are looking into are vandalized newspaper boxes. A candidate for judge who pled guilty to statutory rape. And sheriff's deputies who abused the Constitution to swing an election.

Small town publisher Ken Rossignol Wednesday afternoon replaced newspaper boxes sprayed full of thick plastic insulating foam.

Someone vandalized at least 33 of the "St. Mary's Today" vending machines just a week before a hotly contested election.

"I don't know who did it, but I know who did it last time," Rossignol said.

It's the back story that really makes this tale interesting.

You have to start nearly 40 years ago, when Carla Hennings Bailey says three men gang raped her on St. George Island on the Potomac, an account vigorously disputed by some.

"I don't remember who was holding my arms and who was holding my legs," Hennings recalled.

One name jumps out of the old court records.
Rick Fritz. The same Rick Fritz who decades later became the crusading front runner in the race for St. Mary's State's Attorney.

"We don't need to run a sleazy tabloid when we have politicians like him around," Rossignol said.

Rossignol has so many enemies in town, he keeps a loaded shotgun in his newsroom. He published the story of Fritz's rape conviction on Election Day, 1998.

And that same night Fritz's friends, off duty sheriff's deputies, bought up thousands of copies of "St. Mary's Today" before voters could take a look.

Fritz is again running for elected office this time for judge. And one of his opponents is blasting his role in what's come to be called the newspaper caper.

Rossignol's again planning an election week expose. And once again, his papers have been vandalized.

"At this point, we're going where the investigation leads us. We're not ruling out any possibility. You're aware of the history. Yes sir, we're aware of the history," Rossignol said.

Richard Fritz declined to return 9 News' phone call about the latest newspaper caper.

But his secretary said he had a message that he didn't know anything about "St. Mary's Today."

A lawyers for the sheriff's deputies said he would be "astonished" if his clients had anything to do with the latest vandalism.

To view the full report click "Play Video" for Bruce Leshan's report.