By Myra Hogan, managing editor
March 9, 2010 — A Willard resident, John Buckner, was arrested and lodged in the Carter County Detention Center on a $100,000 cash bond after an investigation by the Carter County Sheriff's Department found him with stolen property.
According to Sheriff Kevin “Mooch” McDavid, he and Deputy Richard May were given a complaint this past Saturday about a stolen dump truck that was identified in the Olive Hill area attempting to pick up a load of gravel.
“We located the dump truck in the Willard area,” said McDavid. “It had been stolen in West Virginia in 2008.”
Buckner was arrested Saturday and charged with two counts of receiving stolen property. But, that was before all the other 19 stolen items were discovered. McDavid said more charges are no doubt pending.
The 21 items recovered included three bull dozers, an excavator, road grader, two semi-tractors, several trailers of different sizes, a mower, three dump trucks and various smaller items. They were found on the property belonging to Buckner off Rt. 1496 in the Lost Creek/Willard area of Southern Carter County.
McDavid and May said they have been assisted by members of several other law enforcement agencies, including FBI Agent Jeff Long from Huntington, WV and KSP Special Investigation Unit Sgt. Bobby Motley out of Frankfort.
May said there is much work yet to be done, including finding out which property has been reimbursed by insurance companies, which would make them the owners of the property now. He added 18 of the 21 items have been identified, in one way or the other, by the owners.
According to McDavid, Buckner told his deputy that the stolen items belonged to him.
“We don't think it is possible that only one person is involved,” McDavid said. “Hopefully we can come up with them, if there are other suspects.”
