ELKINS — A Barbour County man faces a felony charge and eight misdemeanors after allegedly driving a vehicle with several violations, including driving without an operator’s license, and attempting to bring methamphetamine into the Tygart Valley Regional Jail.

Timothy Gale Swecker, 57, of Belington, is charged with one count of transporting alcohol, implements of escape, dangerous material, weapon or drugs to a corrections facility, a felony.

Swecker is also charged eight misdemeanors, including one count of unsafe and improperly equipped vehicles; one count of no operators license; one count of fictitious certificate of inspection or permit issued for another vehicle; one count of knowingly operating without required insurance; one count of expired registration; one count of prohibited person with firearm, one count of violation of a protective order and one count of possession of controlled substance without valid prescription.

Swecker is currently being held at the Tygart Valley Regional Jail on a $10,000 cash-only bond for the felony and a $5,000 cash-only bond for the eight misdemeanors. Both bonds were set by Randolph County Magistrate Benjamin Shepler.

According to the criminal complaint filed by Trooper Thomas J. Sclimenti with the West Virginia State Police, on Oct. 12, Sclimenti was conducting a patrol on Harrison Avenue towards Crystal Springs when he noticed a pickup truck traveling East on the same road.

The vehicle allegedly had “very obvious safety defects” that Sclimenti, due to his “knowledge and experience,” identified as a broken frame, the complaint states. Sclimenti then conducted a traffic stop and observed that the registration of the vehicle was expired. The driver, identified as Swecker, allegedly told Sclimenti that he did not have his driver’s license, insurance card or registration because he had “forgotten his wallet at home.”

Elkins State Police dispatch informed Sclimenti that Swecker had surrendered his operator’s license and had two prior convictions in 2024 and 2025 for driving with no operators, the complaint states. Sclimenti placed Swecker under arrest for driving without an operator’s license.

During the arrest, Sclimenti allegedly located a “white crystalline substance consistent with methamphetamine” in Swecker’s pocket, the complaint states. Sclimenti also allegedly also found a cut straw that he said was “indicative of a ‘tudor’ used for the consumption of (a) controlled substance” also in Swecker’s pocket.

According to the complaint, Sclimenti confirmed and photographed the “unsafe condition of the frame,” which included rust, holes, cracks and use of chains and wood to secure components of the body and suspensions of the vehicle. After reading Swecker his Miranda Rights, Sclimenti asked Swecker where he had gotten an inspection sticker for the vehicle. Swecker allegedly insisted that Colonial Court service station had approved the vehicle’s inspection, however, Sclimenti writes that the deficiencies on the vehicle were “too severe” to have arisen since the alleged inspection.

Sclimenti also asked Swecker where he had procured the suspected methamphetamine, to which Swecker allegedly insisted he had gotten it from a hotel bathroom and thought “it was some sort of a crushed pill,” the complaint states. Sclimenti then asked if Swecker had any more substances on his person he wanted to disclose before being taken to jail. Swecker allegedly denied having any other substances on him.

During his search of the vehicle, Sclimenti also allegedly found a loaded .22 caliber rifle and a knife with a taped handle under the driver seat that Swecker had told him about, the complaint states. Two dogs that were in the vehicle with Swecker, as well as the vehicle itself, were given over to a relative of Swecker who was also informed by Sclimenti that the vehicle could not be driven on public roadways.

When Sclimenti transported Swecker to Tygart Valley Regional Jail, he again told Swecker to let him know if there were any substances on his person before they entered the facility, the complaint states. Swecker allegedly once again denied having any other substances. Upon search of Swecker’s person, correctional officers allegedly located a “folded dollar bill” that contained a “white crystalline powder consistent with methamphetamine” inside Swecker’s boot.

According to the criminal complaint, Sclimenti took custody of the dollar bill and the remaining substance was placed in State Police evidence.