McDowell County man charged with vehicle theft

McDowell County authorities have charged 27-year-old Nicholas Gregory Pendley of Spruce Pine with felony larceny of a motor vehicle. Pendley was denied bond, as he was already out on pretrial release at the time of the new charges.

According to the McDowell County Sheriff’s Office, the incident began on December 2 when Deputy Angel Hernandez spoke with a local resident regarding a stolen vehicle. The victim reported that an acquaintance had taken her vehicle from her driveway without permission. She later located the vehicle at an auto body shop in Spruce Pine but was unable to retrieve it due to a “mechanic’s lien” placed on the vehicle.

Detectives with the sheriff’s office investigated and determined that Pendley had taken the vehicle without authorization. The Spruce Pine Police Department assisted with the investigation, and formal charges were filed against Pendley.