By RACHEL C. DOVE
Staff Writer
DINGESS - A defendant who is no stranger to the Mingo County court judicial system had managed to evade law enforcement since petit and grand larceny charges had been filed against him in February. These charges were in addition to an outstanding capias warrant for failure to appear in court on previous misdemeanor counts of thefts that was already against the accused.
According to information provided by West Virginia State Police Trooper J.J. Dean, he received a tip as to the whereabouts of Greg Copley, 41, of Dingess. Although previous tips had not resulted in Copley’s capture, this time proved different and the defendant was located and taken into custody without incident.
In May of 2011, Sgt. Joe Smith with the Mingo County Sheriff’s Department obtained warrants against Copley for allegedly stealing four new 8-lug wheels from an enclosed car hauler belonging to Jason Hannah, valued at $650. The defendant is said to have sold the stolen wheels to an individual at the cost of $300. Copley failed to appear in court to answer these charges, and the capias was filed.
On Feb. 5 of this year, Trooper Dean filed charges against Copley that included two counts of petit larceny (misdemeanor) and one count of grand larceny (felony). The warrants stemmed from the reported theft of $200 cash from Crystal Church and a Social Security debit card that Copley then used in an ATM machine at the One Stop Exxon Station in Delbarton to remove $1,000 from the account of James Ooten, in $200 increments.
The complaint stated that Copley was staying at the home of Ooten and Church at the time the theft occurred. Ooten contacted police after he was awakened by Copley rummaging through their belongings. After making the accused leave the residence, the listed items were found to be missing.
Copley was arraigned before Magistrate Dallas Toler who set bond on the new charges at $10,000. The defendant was unable to meet bond requirements and is incarcerated in the Southwestern Regional Jail at Holden.
Post a Comment
