Local Veteran Jay Carey, Known for WNC Activism, Faces Charges After White House Protest
By Marge | Published 2025-08-30T16:24:08.146+00:00
News
August 30, 2025: A Western North Carolina veteran, already a well-known figure in local political circles, has found himself at the center of a national story after being arrested for burning a U.S. flag outside the White House. Jay Carey, a retired Army combat veteran and Bronze Star recipient, was charged with two minor misdemeanors related to lighting a fire in a public park, following a protest against a recent executive order.
Federal prosecutors filed two Class "B" misdemeanors against Carey: lighting a fire in an undesignated area and lighting a fire in a manner that causes damage to real property or park resources. These are considered the lowest category of federal offense and carry a maximum sentence of no more than six months in prison, often resolved with a small fine.Carey's actions on August 25 came just hours after an executive order was signed to punish flag burning. In videos that quickly circulated online