MERCER COUNTY, WV (LOOTPRESS)– A Mercer County man has been arrested after allegedly stealing items that hold a value over $19,000.
Authorities investigated a burglary that occurred on May 4, 2021, at a residence and several other outbuildings in the Matoaka area of Mercer County. They learned that Kevin Burdette gave stolen items that could’ve been from the buildings to a Bobby Masters. Troopers also learned that Burdette drove a stolen black Ford Explorer owned by the victim that was reported stolen on May 4, 2021, and recovered on May 7, 2021.
Troopers interviewed a woman about Burdette’s whereabouts on May 11, 2021, around 7:57 pm. The woman stated Burdette was at her residence in the victim’s stolen truck a couple of days before troopers visited at 8:30 am. Burdette talked with her for about 20 minutes. The woman asked Burdette why he had the victim’s truck, and
Burdette stated he traded a motorcycle and $500 for the vehicle. She said that “she knew beyond a shadow of a doubt Mr. Burdette was in the victim’s truck.”
On May 11, 2021, around 5:56 pm, troopers received an audio interview with Masters.
“Mr. Masters stated a dark-colored Dodge pick-up pulled up next to him, which Burdette was operating, and another male was inside. Masters further stated Burdette asked him to drive to get some copper from where he had performed some contract work,” stated the report.
According to Masters, he, Burdette, and another man traveled to a half trailer on Old Giatto Road. Burdette walked out with about 200 pounds of copper. Masters heard about the stolen truck, and Burdette told him that it was his truck and would come back for it later. They left the property and headed back to Burdette’s apartment, where they stored the copper.
The following day Burdette contacted Masters about taking a generator, which was reported stolen by the victim, and selling it to an individual. Masters went to Burdette’s apartment and loaded the generator into his truck. After Burdette didn’t sell the generator, both men came back to Burdette’s apartment, where he gave Masters a yellow air compressor, another item that was reported stolen, as a reward for helping with the generator.
On May 14, 2021, around 4:04 pm, troopers obtained an audio interview with Burdette. Burdette stated he, Masters, and another individual came to his apartment. They told him someone stole property from a residence in the Giatto area and asked if Burdette could go with them and pick up a mower before someone else took it.
Burdette agreed and gave directions to the residence. When all three arrived, the mower wasn’t there. Burdette stated he went to one of the outbuildings and took a small toolbox and more copper. Burdette, Masters, and the other man loaded the copper and tools inside Masters’ pick-up truck. Burdette also stated that the other man was on lookout duty before loading a Honda dirt bike into Masters’ pick-up. The three also took other items from another nearby building. They took the things back to Burdette’s apartment.
The three men went back again to the buildings and took more items.
“Mr. Burdette further stated the man and Mr. Masters went inside the residence and took several items which they placed in totes and loaded in the pick-up,” stated the report.
When Burdette was in the residence, he took the keys to the Ford truck. He started it and followed Masters and the other individual back to Burdette’s apartment. Burdette told authorities that a TV they stole fell out the back and got demolished.
After the interview, Burdette took troopers to the location where he placed the more oversized items, and the trooper took possession of the items.
On May 20, 2021, troopers obtained an interview with the third suspect, Preston Sizemore.
“Mr. Sizemore stated he stayed at Mr. Masters’ residence the first time Mr. Burdette and Mr. Masters went to this house. Mr. Sizemore stated when they returned, they had a bunch of copper and totes in Mr. Masters’ truck,” said the report.
Sizemore stated he went with the other two men as a lookout and began to help them load items into Mr. Masters’ pick-up. He said that Burdette and Masters jump-started the stolen Ford truck and left.
The victim provided authorities an estimated value of the stolen items, which came to $19,500. The value of destroyed items was an estimated $2,900.
Burdette is charged with burglary, grand larceny, destruction of property, and three counts of conspiracy to commit a felony.