Intoxicated man leaves child behind at store

JACKSON COUNTY, WV (LOOTPRESS) – An intoxicated man left a gas station because the employee refused to sell him alcohol, leaving behind his child.

On or about June 14, 2024, at around 3:17 pm, Jackson County 911 received a call regarding an intoxicated driver at 47 Shinn Lane (Go-Mart) in Ripley.

The caller, an employee at Go-Mart, reported that a man and a young girl were at the store. The man attempted to purchase alcohol but couldn’t find his ID. The cashier refused to sell him alcohol, and as he left the store driving a side-by-side vehicle, Deputy Roush responded to the call.

While en route, dispatch informed that the man’s daughter had left the scene with her grandmother. Deputy Roush searched for the man in the direction he drove but could not find him.

Later, another call identified the man driving the side-by-side as Daniel Kolt Matheny.

According to a witness, Matheny and the child arrived at Go-Mart, but the cashier refused to sell him alcohol and threatened to call the police if he tried to leave.  Kolt left the gas station, leaving his daughter behind. Deputy Roush also watched the video, which validated the story.

On June 15, 2024, at around 7:30 am, Deputy Roush requested an arrest warrant for Daniel Kolt Matheny for two counts of Child Neglect, creating a Risk of Injury.