MARTINSBURG, W.Va. — A Martinsburg city councilman and his brother turned themselves in to the Martinsburg Police Department on Wednesday, and were later arraigned in Berkeley County Magistrate Court on charges of petit larceny, destruction of property and conspiracy.
On Monday, Martinsburg officers took a complaint of a larceny and destruction of property at 210 West Martin St. Apartment 1 from Thomas King. He said his landlord, Christopher Baker, loaded his belongings from his apartment onto City of Martinsburg trucks and had them taken away.
Baker, who was at the residence when officers responded, told them that the planning commission had deemed the apartment uninhabitable due to a lack of electricity.
During the interview with authorities, Jason Baker, Christopher’s brother and a Martinsburg Councilman, was leaving the apartment with tools belonging to King.
Warrants for the charges were then obtained. Jason Baker will face charges of conspiracy to commit petit larceny, while Christopher Baker faces petit larceny, destruction of property, and conspiracy charges.
A release from the department says that Christopher Baker did not file an eviction or wrongful occupation of the victim, and that he paid the City of Martinsburg $65 to dispose of the victim’s belongings.