Buckhannon man arrested for allegedly using a worthless check to obtain vehicle parts

Monica Zalaznik
May 12, 2022

BUCKHANNON – An Upshur County man was arrested for allegedly using a worthless check to obtain vehicle parts and possessing a handgun despite having a felony conviction.

Eric Robinson, 39, of Buckhannon was arrested for obtaining property in return for a worthless check, a felony, and felon in possession of a firearm, a misdemeanor.

According to two criminal complaints filed in the Upshur County Magistrate Clerk’s Office by deputy T.R. Collins with the Upshur County Sheriff’s Office, on March 25, 2022, Robinson, the owner of a towing service, allegedly wrote and signed a check for $512.71 and passed the check to Buckhannon Toyota to obtain vehicle parts. On March 28, 2022, the check was returned for insufficient funds.

According to the report, Buckhannon Toyota called Robinson on April 6, 2022, and April 7, 2022. Robinson told Buckhannon Toyota that he would be down to pay in an hour, but Robinson failed to pay.

Then, on May 7, 2022, Collins served a felony arrest warrant on Robinson at his residence in Morgan Addition. Robinson asked to put on some clothes and Collins followed him since he was in custody. He went to his bedroom and Collins noticed a black handgun allegedly sitting on the nightstand beside the bed, according to the file. Robinson had full access to the handgun.

Collins put Robinson in in the back of his cruiser and transported him to the Upshur County Sheriff’s Office for processing. Once there, Collins asked Robinson if he was a convicted felon. Robinson said he was, and the gun was his girlfriend’s so she could protect herself. At the time of the arrest, the handgun was not in her possession nor was it locked up and Robinson could have freely used the handgun.

Robinson was convicted of fraudulent schemes on Sept. 18, 2006, the police report states.

Upshur County Magistrate Mark Davis set bail at $5,000 cash only.

The penalty for a conviction of obtaining property in return for a worthless check is confinement in the penitentiary for not less than one year nor more than 10 years, a fine of up to $500 or both. In addition, the penalty for being a felon in possession of a firearm is confinement in the county jail for not less than 90 days nor more than one year and a fine of not less than $100 nor more than $1,000.