Cops and Courts, Latest News, Preston County

Man accused of being part of multi-state ATV theft ring pleads not guilty to new charges

KINGWOOD — New charges were added Wednesday for a Bretz man earlier accused of being part of a multi-state ATV theft ring.

Steven Keith Waybright, 26, was arraigned and pleaded not guilty to felony charges of third or subsequent offense domestic battery, fleeing in a vehicle with reckless indifference and destruction of property.

Preston Circuit Judge Steve Shaffer set a pretrial hearing for Dec. 12.

Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Megan Allender told the court she is working on a plea agreement with defense attorney Justin Gregory.

The plea agreement would cover the three new charges, plus felony charges of grand larceny, receiving or transferring stolen goods and conspiracy issued by the June grand jury.

Last year, Waybright, along with Justin James Blosser, David Edward Leon Waybright and Willard Thomas III, were charged after what Preston deputies said was a weekslong investigation by multiple police agencies.

The men were suspected of thefts in Maryland and in other counties in West Virginia.

Allender requested all six of the charges against Steven Waybright be covered under a consolidated $5,000 bond.

She said a trial will be set if a plea agreement cannot be reached.

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