Man shoots his co-defendant during attempted ATV theft

KINGWOOD — Preston County deputies charged a Grafton man with shooting his co-defendant in the foot and leg while they attempted to steal an ATV.
Jason Lee Sturms, 41, was arrested Friday, in Taylor County, where he faces drug-related charges and charges of fleeing police.
According to the criminal complaint by Preston Deputy 1st Class C.R. Cline: On March 25, Sturms and two others went to a Newburg area home to steal a 2012 Polaris Razor under the pretense they were there to repossess it. During the failed attempt, Sturms discharged a gun, and Joshua White was struck in the left leg and right foot.
Bond was set at $250,000 in Preston County for the attempted grand larceny and conspiracy charges. Taylor County set bond at $600,000 for possession with intent to deliver, fleeing from an officer and being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm.
According to criminal complaints from Taylor County: On Thursday, officers went to check on someone unconscious in a GMC Envoy on Hardesty Road. As police arrived, the GMC drove off.
The pursuit continued at speeds of up to 80 mph before police stopped it for public safety. At one point the GMC went into reverse and rammed the cruiser twice, almost hitting the officer, who was outside it. It also narrowly missed other traffic, during the chase.
The Envoy is registered to Sturms, whom the Taylor officer recognized as the driver.
On Friday, the GMC was found at Sturms’ residence. He was unconscious in the driver’s seat with the keys in the ignition and had a .45 caliber pistol and two fully loaded magazines in a holster on his hip, and 13.88 grams of something that field tested as meth. The drug has a street value of $1,300.