BUCKHANNON – An Upshur County man was arrested for allegedly possessing a stolen vehicle and several firearms despite being banned from having the weapons.
Dereck Cobb, 32, of French Creek, was arrested for five counts of prohibited person possessing a firearm, a felony, and possession of a stolen vehicle, also a felony.
According to the criminal complaint in the Upshur County Magistrate Clerk’s Office filed by Upshur County Sheriff’s Deputy Cpl. T.R. Collins, on Oct. 16, 2023, at approximately 2 p.m., the Upshur Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant at 1978 Beechtown Road in Upshur County, Cobb’s residence.
During the execution of the search warrant, Collins allegedly seized the following firearms and vehicles: one Springfield/Savage .410 shotgun, one Savage camouflage 221r with a scope, one Glenfield mod 60 221r with a scope, one Taurus “The Judge” revolver and one Marlin 12-gauge shotgun.
Law enforcement officers also allegedly recovered a spray-painted Honda four-wheeler.
Cobb was convicted of delivery of a controlled substance, methamphetamine, a felony, on Nov. 16, 2016. According to West Virginia Code, this conviction prohibits him from possessing a firearm, according to the report.
The complaint says four firearms were found in Cobb’s bedroom, with the pistol stored under the mattress on his side of the bed. The other firearm was allegedly found in the garage adjacent to his residence.
The spray-painted Honda four-wheeler, which was reportedly stolen on or about Sept. 15, 2023, was allegedly found in a building on the same property as Cobb’s residence. Behind the residence, officers found what appeared to be four-wheeler tracks leading from a deer bait site back to the building where it was found.
Upshur County Magistrate Mark Davis set bail at $75,000 cash only.
The potential penalty for a prohibited person possessing a firearm is confinement in a state penitentiary for not more than five years, a fine of not more than $5,000 or both.
In addition, the possible penalty for possession of a stolen vehicle is confinement in the penitentiary for not less than one nor more than two years, or, at the discretion of the court, confinement in the county jail for not more than one year and a fine of up to $500.
