Suspect or Victim? Attorney Contends Man Innocent After Theft Arrest in Paragould

PARAGOULD, Ark. – A Paragould man is facing a felony charge for theft by receiving but his attorney says that he is actually the victim.

Zachary Gibson, of Paragould, faces a charge of theft by receiving after police received information of a possible stolen vehicle located on Jessica Faye Street in Paragould.

On January 8, 2024, the Paragould Police Department’s Criminal Investigation Division received the tip and officers located the vehicle at the residence. The VIN returned to a 2024 GMC Sierra 2500 Denali stolen on December 14, 2023 out of Texas.

Jared Woodard with Stanley Woodard Law Firm represents Gibson in the case. He talked to NEA Report this week and described the situation much differently from the picture painted by the probable cause affidavit.

Woodard says that Gibson purchases vehicles, adds wheels, tires, tent, or other accessories, then resells them. He found a vehicle for sale in Texas, researched the vehicle, and confirmed it had no issues and a clean title.  He completed the purchase, made a down payment, and brought the vehicle back to Arkansas.

Several days later, the vehicle was reported stolen.

Woodard believes this is actually a scheme by a dishonest seller who cashes in on a vehicle sale, waits a few days, then someone known by the seller reports the vehicle stolen. Gibson had the vehicle sitting out in his driveway and insured, contends his lawyer. He had no reason to believe he was doing something wrong.

“If he was doing something illegal, would he have the truck sitting in his driveway in broad daylight?”

“My client is really the victim here,” Woodard told NEA Report. “He was just trying to make a little money and ended up being taken advantage of. I understand the police and prosecutor have a job to do and hopefully we can help out. This is another example to be extremely careful when dealing with individuals you don’t know on the internet.”

Gibson is being charged with Theft by receiving, which is a Class B felony if the value of the property is $25,000 or more. It carries a potential sentence of five to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $15,000.

All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in court.