Stewart

BELINGTON – A Belington man is facing a felony charge after deputies say he threatened to shoot individuals connected to the Barbour County Fair.

Wayne Douglas Stewart, 59, of Belington, is charged with making terroristic threats. He was transported to the Tygart Valley Regional Jail after being taken into custody but is currently out on bond.

According to the criminal complaint, prepared by Deputy C. Curkendall, on July 18, the Barbour County Sheriff’s Department received a report of harassing and threatening communication from Stewart toward members of the Barbour County Fair Board and to Gamble Amusement, a vendor at the Barbour County Fair.

The complaint states that Stewart communicated with the parties by telephone and told Gamble Amusement staff that he was going to “take a shotgun and blow your brains out.”

Stewart also made multiple threatening statements via text and telephone, referencing the use of a shotgun and expressing violent intent toward individuals involved with the Barbour County Fair, the complaint states.

According to the complaint, the messages caused “significant fear and disruption, leading to heightened concern and panic: among Barbour County Fair staff.

The same phone number was previously linked to threats made in 2024 toward Phil Hart and Matt Ryan, both involved in a political campaign, according to the criminal complaint.