Nebo man faces 10 charges after reported vehicle and building break-ins

Travis Paul Cook received a $100,000 secured bond; court records list an Oct. 19 probable cause hearing.

A 40-year-old Nebo man faces eight felony charges and two misdemeanor charges after authorities say he broke into multiple vehicles and a building at a West Marion residence Sept. 27.

Deputy Caleb Baliles of the McDowell County Sheriff’s Office charged Travis Paul Cook with six counts of felony breaking and entering a motor vehicle, one count of felony larceny after breaking and entering, one count of felony breaking and entering, misdemeanor possession of up to a half-ounce of marijuana and misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia.

Cook received a $100,000 secured bond, according to the sheriff’s office and McDowell District Court records reviewed by WCAB News.

Baliles responded to the residence after a caller reported a breaking-and-entering incident. Before the deputy arrived, the caller said the suspect had fled on foot after being confronted, according to the sheriff’s office.

The property owner told Baliles that Cook had entered a building and was stealing items when the owner spotted and confronted him. The owner also reported that Cook had entered multiple vehicles on the property, authorities said.

A short time later, the owner’s dogs began barking, and Baliles spotted Cook along the tree line at the back of the property, according to the sheriff’s office.

After detaining Cook, Baliles searched him and found several items belonging to the property owner, along with marijuana and drug paraphernalia, authorities said.

The release order includes written findings by a judicial official stating that Cook was combative with law enforcement, injured himself to go to the hospital and was too aggressive to fingerprint. The order states that the bond was set using Class I and Class H felony guidelines.

Court records list a Sept. 28 first appearance and an Oct. 19 probable cause hearing, according to case number 26CR417278-580 on the NC Judicial Branch eCourts portal.

The sheriff’s office said the investigation remains ongoing.

The charges are allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.