SUMMERS COUNTY, W.Va. (Hinton News) — A local woman faces criminal charges after being accused of stealing a vehicle in the Jumping Branch area, according to law enforcement.
According to court documents, an officer reported on April 17 that an individual claimed someone had taken his 2011 Dodge from his residence without his consent. The complainant said the suspect, identified as Hannah Maekayla Romanello, had been living in a home he owned and took the vehicle while he was out of town.
Following the initial report, the investigating officer obtained Romanello’s phone number. When someone else answered and said she was not present, the officer left a message asking Romanello to contact the officer about the vehicle’s return.
Further connecting the case, the criminal complaint states that a Hinton Police Department member saw Romanello driving the 2011 Dodge on multiple occasions. Officers previously stopped Romanello in the vehicle and reportedly instructed her to provide proof of insurance to the department—a requirement she allegedly failed to meet.
The complainant estimated the vehicle’s value at approximately $15,000 and emphasized that he never granted Romanello permission to use or possess the truck.
Following the investigation, authorities took Romanello into custody on April 25 and transported her to Southern Regional Jail to await her initial appearance. At the time of publishing, she remains in custody with bail set at $15,000.
Disclaimer: A criminal complaint is an accusation. All subjects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The information provided is sourced from public records and official statements from the Summers County Magistrate Court and law enforcement agencies.
