A Villager accused of stalking is seeking donations to pay for his legal defense.

Ed McGinty
Ed McGinty

Ed McGinty, 73, of the Village of Hadley, is facing a charge of stalking following his Sept. 24 arrest after showing up at the home of a fellow Villager he had allegedly tormented the previous day at the Hadley swimming pool.

He was due for arraignment Wednesday in Sumter County Court.

He has set up a GoFundMe account to pay for his legal defense for “peacefully protesting outside of a leading Trump supporters house.” His goal is to raised $10,000. As of Wednesday evening, he had raised $4,979. Many of his donors have chosen to remain anonymous. He set up the GoFundMe page on Sept. 27, three days after his arrest. He remains free on $5,000 bond.

Villager Ed McGinty is raising money online to pay for his legal defense
Villager Ed McGinty is raising money online to pay for his legal defense.

McGinty became well known and controversial in The Villages for his anti-Trump demonstrations in the lead up to the 2020 election.

He was banned from the Hadley pool last month after calling a fellow Villager a “fat slob” when she showed up to exercise in the pool wearing a “Joe Biden Sucks” T-shirt. He went to her home the next day, leading to his arrest.