Cops and Courts, News

Two men arrested with involvement in ATV theft

KINGWOOD — Police have charged two Bretz men with involvement in the theft of ATVs and are looking for two others.
Justin James Blosser, 29, was arrested Wednesday, after police released his photo and information to the media. He is charged with receiving or transferring stolen goods and conspiracy.
David Edward Leon Waybright, 26, is charged with receiving or transferring stolen goods.
Two other men who Preston deputies put on their most wanted list — Willard Thomas III and Steven Waybright — are also listed as being connected to the thefts in court records.
“This has been a several week long investigation and a multi-agency investigation,” said Preston Chief Deputy P.A. Pritt. “We expect to arrest more people.”
The investigation has included ATV thefts in Maryland and other West Virginia counties, he said. “I think there are more people out there with knowledge regarding all that.”
Tips from the public helped police with the investigation and arrests, Pritt said. “And we hope for more tips,” he said. “Keep them coming.”
According to criminal complaints: On June 8 state police received a report of a stolen 700cc Suzuki Twin Peaks in Albright. On June 10 they and Preston Sheriff’s deputies received an online tip that Blosser had a stolen ATV.
They found several ATVs with their serial numbers removed covered by a tarp. Blosser said David Waybright owned them. Police identified one of the ATVs as the Suzuki stolen in Albright and another as a Suzuki Vinson stolen in the Newburg area.
All told, more than a half dozen ATVs were recovered, Pritt said.
Also on June 10, deputies received a report of a Honda Recon TRX 250 stolen from a Bruceton Mills address. It was found with the others but hadn’t been seized initially because it hadn’t yet been reported stolen. The ignition switch was damaged, stickers removed and the VIN matched that of the stolen ATV.
On June 11, David Waybright said he bought the other ATVs from Thomas, Blosser and Steven Waybright, knowing they were stolen.
He told deputies that two men brought the Honda to his home in a pickup and told him if he had a bill of sale, he couldn’t get into trouble. Waybright knew it was stolen. Officers recovered a fabricated bill of sale.