A lawsuit has been filed against a Democratic former candidate for Congress, Crystal Cavalier Keck, as well as her husband, Jason Keck, for allegedly illegally occupying a rental home at 5123 North N.C. Highway 119 in Mebane.
Kick lost her bid in the May 2022 Democratic primary to represent the 4th congressional district, which includes Alamance, Durham, Granville, Orange, and Person counties and a portion of Caswell County. (Democrat Valerie Foushee subsequently won that race in last year’s General Election.)
The property was sold in June 2023 to what appears to be a rental real estate investment company, JCMNC, LLC, which has its office at 1000 21st Avenue, Suite 6, in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, based on a copy of the deed that is included in the court file.
The property includes a 1,704-square foot ranch-style brick home built in 1950 on two acres of land in the Pleasant Grove community between Burlington and Mebane.
The complaint alleges that the couple is occupying the property – without the current owner’s permission.
The Kecks claim to have had a 60-month lease with the previous owner.
The previous owner, however, whom the complaint lists as Margaret Anette Nichols, “has denied that she entered into a lease agreement with the defendants and that the signature appearing on the purported lease is a forgery,” the complaint states.
A summons was issued to the Kecks and filed in Alamance County civil district court last week.
The current owner, JCMNC LLC, is asking for an Alamance County judge to enter an order removing the Kecks from the property and is seeking recovery of attorneys’ fees and related costs.
JCMNC LLC purchased the property at 5123 North N.C. Highway, Mebane, for $130,000 in mid-June, based on the deed that is included in the court file. The company previously notified the couple to vacate the property on July 14, according to a copy of the letter that is also included in the court file.
The plaintiff is being represented by the Pittman and Steele law firm in Burlington.
The defendants had not filed a response by press time.
