BOONE COUNTY, WV (LOOTPRESS) – A Boone County man was arrested Saturday evening following a burglary at the Julian Mini Mart on Julian Road. Authorities responded to an alarm call and discovered evidence of forced entry and a missing cash till, which was later recovered during a traffic stop.
Responding to the Scene
At approximately 8:25 p.m. on January 11, 2024, Troopers M.D. Veres and First Class A.R. Workman arrived at the Julian Mini Mart, located at 672 Julian Road. Upon arrival, officers observed the front door had been tampered with, showing signs of a bent frame, a broken handle, and shattered plexiglass.
K-9 Kali assisted in an initial search of the premises. Inside, officers discovered that the cash till was missing. A set of footprints around the exterior of the building provided further evidence of the break-in.
Suspicious Vehicle Leads to Arrest
Shortly after, the officers observed a suspicious vehicle traveling east on West Virginia Route 3 with a defective headlight and taillight. A traffic stop was initiated, revealing three occupants:
- Driver: Freddie Ray Pauley
- Front Passenger: Erin Kay Pauley
- Back Passenger: Billy Joe Covert
During the stop, Troopers noticed partially burned aluminum foil inside the vehicle, which is commonly associated with drug use. Upon removing the occupants, officers discovered the missing cash till in the back seat, partially covered by a jacket.
A subsequent pat-down revealed a glass smoking device with suspected methamphetamine residue in Freddie Pauley’s pocket.
Confession and Evidence
During the traffic stop, Billy Joe Covert admitted to unlawfully entering the Julian Mini Mart and stealing the cash till. He explained that he had forced open the front door after disabling the power meter, removed the cash till, and then exited the store before walking along Route 3.
The stolen cash till was positively identified by the store owner, who confirmed handwritten notes affixed to it matched their description.
Charges and Investigation
Covert was arrested and transported to the West Virginia State Police Madison Detachment, where he participated in a Mirandized, audio-recorded interview. He waived his rights and provided a detailed confession of the crime.
Covert faces charges of burglary, theft, and possession of methamphetamine. The investigation remains ongoing as authorities continue to examine evidence collected during the incident.
