A Berkeley Springs man was charged with burglary and illegal possession of a firearm last Thursday, August 9 after residents reported seeing him peeking into house windows.
Deputy Luke Shambaugh of the Morgan County Sheriff’s Department arrested Stephen A. Kuykendall, 33, of Golden Lane late Thursday afternoon. Kuykendall was charged with burglary and being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm.
Morgan County 911 received numerous calls about a male subject, later identified as Kuykendall stopping in front of houses in and around the 2000 block of Fairview Drive. The initial 911 caller told dispatchers the man had been peeking through the window of her residence. Callers said the man appeared to be carrying two rifles wrapped in a sheet.
According to a criminal complaint filed in Morgan County Magistrate Court, Deputy Shambaugh located Kuykendall in the 2100 block of Fairview Drive. Just south of his location, officers found a green sweatshirt covering a black .243 rifle and a pellet gun with a wooden stock. Police also found an e-book electronic device, security safe, knife and jewelry box with items inside.
Kuykendall allegedly told police another man had taken the items out of the house on Fairview Drive. He also said he had left the guns on the ground for that same man to pick up. Kuykendall is not legally permitted to have a firearm due to a 2010 felony conviction for malicious assault/wounding.
Police found more jewelry and cash on Kuykendall.
According to police, several witnesses in the area reported seeing Kuykendall carry and set down the firearms. Another witness told police he had offered her money to give him a ride away from Fairview Drive.
Sheriff K.C. Bohrer located the owner of the items, who confirmed a .243 Winchester rifle had been taken from his residence.
Kuykendall is being held at the Eastern Regional Jail in lieu of a $15,000 cash/surety bond.
