Sheriff Graham Knight filed a complaint in the Magistrate Court of Calhoun April 7th, 2026 against Caleb Hart of Parkersburg, following the discovery of a stolen trailer recovered in Wood County. The investigation began on March 13th, 2026 when Dennis Spaur advised Sheriff Knight that his 2020 Diamond C 7×12 utility trailer had been stolen from 101 School Street in Grantsville WV 26147. Dennis gave a written statement that on March 13th 2026 he attempted to locate the trailer but assumed it was being used by contractors working in that area. After the trailer was not located, Mr. Spaur advised Sheriff Knight that the trailer had been stolen and provided a title from the Department of Motor Vehicles showing himself as the registered owner. The trailer was valued at $1,500. He also described that the spare tire for the trailer had a plug in the tire and provided a photograph of the trailer while it had been in his possession.
Caleb Hart was arrested in Wood County, West Virginia by Deputy B. H. Thornburg on April 2nd, 2026 where Caleb admitted the trailer he was pulling behind his vehicle was stolen. The trailer had been stripped of its vehicle identification number but matched in its physical attributes to the trailer Dennis Spaur had reported stolen from Calhoun County, WV. At the time the trailer was recovered by Deputy Thornburg and the trailer contained stolen items from several other burglaries within Calhoun County, WV having been described by victims.
Caleb Hart did commit simple larceny of goods or chattels of the value of $1,000 or more, such person is guilty of a felony, designated grand larceny, and, upon conviction thereof, shall be imprisoned in the penitentiary not less than one nor more than ten years, or, in the discretion of the court, be confined in jail not more than one year and shall be fined not more than $2,500.
In a complaint filed in Wood County by Deputy B.H. Thornburg on April 3rd, 2026, the Deputy stated that on April 4th, 2026 he had observed a Chevy Colorado hauling a black trailer enter the GoMart at 3001 7th Street. Deputy Thornton noticed the vehicle to belong to a person of interest, possibly involved in multiple burglaries and larcenies in surrounding counties. The traffic stop identified the subject as Caleb Hart, being the
same person of interest. It was discovered that Hart had an active felony warrant out of Gilmer County for Grand
Larceny at which time Deputy Thornton placed the defendant in hand restraints and advised the defendant of his arrest.
Caleb Hart advice Deputy Thornton that the trailer and some of the items loaded were stolen. When the Deputy searched for a VIN number on the trailer but was unable to locate any due to black spray paint on the stickers as well as no VIN plate which appeared to have been removed. The Deputy contacted the West Virginia State Police who provided a detailed description from victim of the stolen trailer which matched the trailer on scene. Caleb Hart was then arrested and charged with Altering Vehicle Serial Numbers and Receiving or Transferring Stolen Goods.
In addition to the Calhoun and Wood County charges Hart is facing Grand Larceny charges in Gilmer County.
A complaint filed in the Magistrate Court of Gilmer County on April 2nd, 2026 by Deputy C.D. Travis of the Gilmer County Sheriff’s Office stated that the Deputy had responded to a Larceny on Monday the 23rd day of February 2026 at approximately 9:00 a.m.
Deputy Travis responded to a Larceny located at Shock, West Virginia, and while in route to the Larceny was flagged down by the Caller/ Landlord who stated he takes care of the residence due to the Victims living in another state. He had noticed two Utility Vehicles missing from the drive way from the residence in question. One of the Utility Vehicles was a 2019 Polaris Razor 2 seater Gray in color with another Utility Vehicle being a 2022 Polaris General 4 Seater White in color.
On a separate incident on the 21st day of March 2026 at approximately 9 p.m., Trooper Wiley Raines of the West Virginia State Police, Calhoun unit, received a suspicious/ abandoned vehicle report. Trooper Raines arrived on scene at the old Brooksville School in Calhoun County, West Virginia and located a freshly (black) painted Geneml Utility Vehicle. While searching for the VIN number Trooper Raines observed the side by side original factory paint color to be white. Trooper
Raines located the VIN number and provided it to the West Virginia State Police South Charleston Dispatch Center where he was advised that the Utility Vehicle was in fact the stolen and entered NCIC. Trooper Raines then conducted folow up on this investigation with neighboring property owners.
One of the neighbors stated they saw a white/silver truck with a trailer with 2 individuals unloading the Utility vehicle on or about the 21st day of March 2026 at approximately 3:25 a.m. Another neighbor stated approximately a month before the Utility Vehicle was recovered he observed a white/ silver Colorado i n the same location in the school parking lot. Over the past two months Calhoun County has received several reports of a white/silver/ camouflaged Chevy Colorado with a dirty or damaged license plate cover over a registration plate with the last 4 characters observed to be 447A.
Deputy C.D. Travis was provided information from traffic stops documenting the truck in question had been altered from its original color to a camouflaged color.
On Monday the 30th day of March 2026 Deputy Nichols of the Wood County Sheriff’s Office in West Virginia performed a drive by of Caleb Wayne Hart’s Primary residence in Parkersburg, Wood County, West Virginia where he observed a White Chevy Colorado with what appeared to be remnants of black paint on the truck, however the truck color was generally white. Deputy Nichols observed the registration to be the saine last 4 characters matching other incidents.
Trooper Raines conducted a partial registration search, which yielded a positive match for only one Chevy Colorado which was registered to Caleb Wayne Hart. It is important to note that in 2025 Caleb Hart was wrote a traffic citation as the owner/ driver of a white Chevy Colorado, on February 28th 2026. Trooper R.L. Santa wrote a traffic citation to Caleb Hart as the owner/ driver of a camouflaged Chevy Colorado with the same West Virginia Registration and same VIN number.
Caleb Hart is facing a combination of the following charges:
Calhoun County charge is Grand Larceny. Bond has been set at $50,000 with a Preliminary Hearing Scheduled before Magistrate Lora Davis on April 20th, 2026 at 10:00 a.m.
Gilmer County charge: Grand Larceny. Bond set at $50,000 and reduced to $25,000 by Gilmer Magistrate Carol Wolfe. The Gilmer Preliminary Hearing was waived on April 10th in Gilmer Magistrate Court.
Wood County charges against Mr. Hart were: 1 Count(s) of: 17A-8-8(b): Altered or removed serial number from special mobile equipment with fraudulent intent and
A not guilty plea was entered by Caleb Wayne Hart and a motion to dismiss was filed by Attorney John C. Weber, which was granted by Magistrate Don Lindsey, Junior on Monday April, 13th, 2026 at the defendant’s preliminary hearing. The case was dismissed on the same date.
Good work gentleman!!!…..however I’m sure/hope this punitive procedure isn’t over.This fellow covered a lot of ground sinfully content in his endeavors. Also likely accompanied n facilitated in where to go next.(local networking)
The last paragraph surely gives one pause for thought.
How can you confess to possession of stolen property-then plead not guilty.then have charges dismissed???..it’s a serious question.
It seems anymore the burden is on the victim these days.I really don’t know how much patience people have left or property to spare.
These pleas n dismissal are getting more absurd and a regular occurrence.I can’t imagine doing all the police work required to go to hearings n get it dropped because a favor or selectively snitching to get by.
Doesn’t inspire confidence in the public or those tasked with enforcing the laws.