RAINELLE, W.Va. (WVDN) – A Rainelle man is facing charges after allegedly selling a vehicle he did not own, leaving its rightful owner searching for months, authorities said.
According to Rainelle Police, the victim arranged a business deal with the suspect, identified as Matthew Thomas Boone, on Sept. 3, 2024. As part of the agreement, Boone towed the vehicle to an address in Rainelle. The car was never returned, and by November, it had gone missing.
The victim attempted to contact Boone multiple times, but by December, he had stopped responding, according to the criminal complaint. After an unsuccessful attempt to locate the vehicle, the victim and a witness reported the incident to the Rainelle police, prompting an investigation.
Police met with Boone in December, but at the time, he was not considered a suspect. Boone claimed that after learning the victim planned to retrieve the car, he pushed it outside a gate. According to the police report, the victim claimed the vehicle was gone the next morning.
On Jan. 23, the victim once again reported the vehicle missing, confirming that no one had permission to take and/or sell the car. Police then classified the vehicle as stolen and entered it into Greenbrier County’s law enforcement database.
Authorities eventually tracked the vehicle to Nicholas County, and on Feb. 3, deputies from the Nicholas County Sheriff’s Office recovered the car at a residence on Beam Road in Mount Lookout.
A witness told police that in December, Boone contacted him and offered to sell the vehicle for $500. This witness purchased the car directly from Boone, unaware that it had been reported stolen.
Boone is now facing accusations for allegedly unlawfully depriving the owner of her vehicle and selling it without authorization. He faces charges for grand theft auto and transporting stolen goods.
Boone was arrested and booked into Southern Regional Jail on March 4. His bail has been set at $10,000.
The case remains under investigation, according to police officials
