2nd largest amount raised from the recent unclaimed property firearms auction
State Treasurer Riley Moore today announced his Office’s recent unclaimed property firearms auction raised nearly $20,000 for the Preston County Sheriff's Office – funds to be put towards improving safety and law enforcement efforts in the local community.
“Since 2021, my Office has raised more than $588,000 for the men and women who work tirelessly in law enforcement to keep our communities safe for West Virginia families,” Treasurer Moore said. “I’m proud to partner with the Preston County Sheriff's Office through this program to help them turn unclaimed firearms into funds they can use to invest in safety equipment.”
Pictured left to right:
Preston County Sheriff Office’s Captain Jason Rodeheaver
State Treasurer Riley Moore
The Preston County Sheriff's Office received $19,822.50 from the State Treasurer’s Office’s most recent auction, which occurred on March 21 in Charleston. Treasurer Moore presented the check to Captain Jason Rodeheaver at the Preston County Sheriff's Office on Tuesday, April 16.
For 15 years, Captain Rodeheaver has served at the Preston County Sheriff’s Office. He helped the Sheriff’s Office turn over the designated unclaimed firearms from their evidence facilities to the State Treasurer’s Office, which resulted in roughly 110 firearms being purchased by qualified bidders at the recent auction.
“We appreciate the State Treasurer’s Office for conducting this firearms auction program,” Captain Rodeheaver said. “We received more funds than initially anticipated. With over 33,000 residents, the Preston County Sheriff’s Office plans to use this money to purchase equipment that will help us further our commitment to public safety.”
The firearms auction raised more than $98,000 to benefit the 19 participating law enforcement agencies – upholding last year’s record-high number of police departments, sheriff’s offices and police detachments turning over property for the auction. The auction raises funds by selling outdated, unclaimed or old firearms, ammunition and related accessories in police inventory to qualified bidders.
The auctions are not open to the general public; only pre-registered Federal Firearms License Holders can attend and are eligible to bid.
Under West Virginia’s Unclaimed Property Code (Chapter 36, Article 8A), state and local law enforcement agencies are allowed to turn over any unclaimed, seized or outdated firearms in their possession to the State Treasurer’s Office for auction.
These include weapons that are older and no longer used by a department, or that have been seized as evidence and sitting in storage rooms for an extended amount of time following the disposition of a case. They can also include weapons taken from individuals who are not legally allowed to own firearms.
Once law enforcement certifies they cannot find a lawful owner of the firearms, they can be turned over to the Treasurer’s Office for auction.
The proceeds from the auction are then returned to the submitting agency for use.