A 37-year-old Ashland City man is facing a felony after what started as a neighborhood yard sign dispute allegedly turned physical in a store parking lot. Police say he grabbed and strangled a 17-year-old during an argument over a stolen sign on Sunday, June 7, outside an auto-parts shop, leaving the teen with visible marks around the throat, according to court paperwork. Neighbors and relatives are now trying to sort through a simmering feud that family members say began when teens repeatedly took a "no ICE" sign from the man's front yard.
The arrest affidavit lays out a blow-by-blow account and notes red marks on the victim's neck after the scuffle. A store employee who saw the aftermath backed up what the teens told investigators, according to WKRN. Deputies say the teens had returned to the lot after taking the sign when the confrontation unfolded. Officers arrested 37-year-old Jacob Barta and charged him with aggravated assault of a minor.
Jacob's sister, Louisa Barta, told WKRN that her brother "is not a violent man" and that the family disputes parts of the account described in the affidavit. Relatives said the teens had swiped the "no ICE" yard sign from the house multiple times before the parking lot encounter and that tensions had been building long before June 7.
Court Date and Restrictions
Booking records show Barta posted a $15,000 bond and was ordered to have no contact with the teen while the case moves through the courts. His next appearance is scheduled for July 22, 2026, according to jail paperwork and court listings. The aggravated assault charge remains pending, and prosecutors will decide whether to file any additional counts as they continue reviewing the incident.
Witness Accounts and Context
The arrest affidavit says a store employee corroborated the teens' version of events, and deputies documented visible injuries on the 17-year-old that led to an immediate arrest. Family members stressed that the repeated theft of the sign had been a long-running frustration, telling investigators the sign had been taken from the yard about four times, and said they had hoped the dispute would not spiral into criminal charges. Law enforcement has not released body camera or surveillance video to the public while the investigation continues.
Cheatham County prosecutors are expected to review the full arrest packet before any formal indictment. The case remains active, and anyone with information is asked to contact Ashland City deputies. Barta is presumed innocent unless and until he is proven guilty in court.
