On October 23, 2024, Cpl. DC Moore filed a complaint against Matthew Donald Stevens, in the office of Magistrate Lora Davis stating that that on October 22, 2024 at approximately 5 p.m. Corporal DC Moore was advised of a motorcycle accident along Route 5, West Little Kanawha Hwy just outside of Grantsville. Upon arrival Cpl. Moore found a 2003 Harley Davidson Sportster in the driveway, with the operator of the vehicle nowhere in sight.
At around 5:45 p.m. Trooper Moore spoke with the owner of the property where the accident took place who advised after the motorcycle wrecked, the operator asked him to give him a ride back to MayApple Lane in Big Bend. After the property owner returned home from giving Matthew Stevens a ride, Michael Perry Richards advised him the Stevens had borrowed the bike to go for a ride. He later returned to the house covered in cuts and road rash from the accident.
A further check of Stevens operators license showed that it was suspended for unpaid citations. The motorcycle did
not have insurance, registration, or an inspection sticker. It is believed that Stevens intentionally asked the property owner to not call law enforcement because he was on probation. Stevens also advised him that he thought he was being chased by law enforcement and was attempting to flee. Although Trooper Moore had observed the motorcycle at the intersection of Route 5 and Leafbank prior to the accident, he did not turn on the vehicle or attempt to stop it at that time.
Matthew Stevens has one prior conviction for driving suspended, violation date of 1/12/2023, and a conviction date of 1/22/2023. Matthew has multiple convictions for driving without a license.
Stevens was arrested on March 4th, 2025 and is being held without bond in the WV Central Regional on the offenses of:
- No Insurance
- No Registration
- Driving with Suspended Operators
- Hit Run
In addition he is being held without bond on a Ritchie County Felony Capias.
State Code on the Calhoun County Charges are as follows:
§17C-4-1. Crashes involving death or personal injuries; Erin’s Law.
(a) The driver of any vehicle involved in a crash resulting in the injury to or death of any person shall. immediately stop the vehicle at the scene of the crash or as close to the scene as possible and return to and remain at the scene of the crash until he or she has complied with the requirements of §17C-4-3 of this code: Provided, That the driver may leave the scene of the crash as may reasonably be necessary for the purpose of rendering assistance to any person injured in the crash, as required by §17C-4-3 of this code.
§17D-2A-3. Required security; exceptions.
(a) Every owner or registrant of a motor vehicle required to be registered and licensed in this state shall maintain security as hereinafter provided in effect continuously throughout the registration or licensing period except in case of a periodic use or seasonal vehicle, in which case the owner or registrant is required to maintain security upon the vehicle only for the portion of the year the vehicle is in actual use. As used in this section, a periodic use or seasonal vehicle means a recreational vehicle, antique motor vehicle, motorcycle or other motor vehicle which is stored part of the year and used seasonally.
§17B-4-3. Driving while license suspended or revoked; driving while license revoked for driving under the influence of alcohol, controlled substances or drugs, or while having alcoholic concentration in the blood of eight hundredths of one percent or more, by weight, or for refusing to take secondary chemical test of blood alcohol contents.
(a) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (b) or (d) of this section, any person who drives a motor vehicle on any public highway of this state at a time when his or her privilege to do so has been lawfully suspended or revoked by this state or any other jurisdiction is, for the first offense, guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not less than $100 nor more than $500; for the second offense, the person is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not less than $100 nor more than $500; for the third or any subsequent offense, the person is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be confined in jail for a period of not less than thirty days nor more than ninety days and shall be fined not less than $150 nor more than $500.
§17C-16-9. Operation without certificate or failure to produce certificate; penalty for misdemeanor.
It is a misdemeanor for any owner or operator, or both owner and operator, of any vehicle required to be inspected under subsection (a), section four of this article, to operate or permit to be operated such vehicle without having displayed thereon a current and valid certificate of inspection and approval or fail to produce same upon demand of any authorized person as designated under said subsection: Provided, That a dealer licensed to sell new vehicles under the provision of article six, chapter seventeen-a of this code shall not be required to display a certificate of inspection and approval upon any new vehicle if the vehicle is driven for an operational purpose including all activities associated with dealer preparation for sale of a motor vehicle belonging to such dealer when such vehicle has not been titled or delivered to a purchaser, and when such car is not to be used in the demonstrator fleet or otherwise routinely driven on the highways or roads of this state.
