BELINGTON, WV (LOOTPRESS) — A Barbour County man is facing a felony charge after allegedly threatening violence against members of the Barbour County Fair Board and a local fair vendor.
On or about July 18, 2025, deputies say Wayne Douglas Stewart, of Barbour County Highway in Belington, used his phone to make violent threats, including one in which he reportedly stated, “I’ll take a shotgun and blow your brains out.” The threats were directed at Gamble Amusement, a vendor at the Barbour County Fair, and members of the Barbour County Fair Board, according to a criminal complaint filed by Deputy C. Curkendall.
The threats were made via phone calls and text messages, which authorities confirmed belonged to Stewart. Officials say the messages caused panic and serious concern among fair staff and disrupted fair operations.
The same number, according to law enforcement, was previously linked to threats made in 2024 against Phil Hart and Matt Ryan, both of whom were involved in a political campaign. Those prior threats were investigated by Trooper Faultineer of the West Virginia State Police, who also verified the phone number belonged to Stewart.
Based on the repeated threats and confirmed phone records, Stewart has been charged with making terroristic threats, a felony under West Virginia Code § 61-6-24, which applies to threats intended to terrorize others or cause widespread disruption.
