Politics of Contraband: Jerks Smuggle Jerky to Finance 34 Mile Trip
jonathanturley
Submitted by Mark Esposito, Guest Blogger
Steve Martin’s character, Navin Johnson, has nothing on two West Virginia residents hell-bent to rescue a relative with car trouble. Hearing the plea for help, but without sufficient funds to finance the 34 mile trip from Somerset, PA to New Stanton, PA, cousins Michael Allen Graham, 37, and John Edward Barry, 35, got resourceful. Believing they could “live off the land,” so to speak, the Milton, WVa duo began an alleged shoplifting spree at gas stations and auto parts stores in the general direction of the disabled motorist.
Police say in an affidavit they saw “a large amount of boxed and packaged beef jerky,” “Slim Jims,” and socket sets on the car’s rear seat. The two-man gang hoped to sell their take for gas and toll money. The reason for the stop was that police noticed that the pair’s front license plate was precariously hanging from the bumper.
