Paintsville Man Arrested After Attempting to Unlock Stolen Laptop
Paintsville, KY — A bizarre attempt to retrieve a password for a stolen laptop led to the arrest of a Paintsville man on multiple charges, including burglary, drug possession, and identity theft.
Victims of a previous theft on Bridge Street contacted police after two individuals invited them to a motel room to unlock a stolen laptop. When Paintsville Police arrived at the room, they encountered Brian Keith Gatewood, 33, and Shasta Nicole Daniels, 32, both of Paintsville.
Inside the motel room, officers reported discovering methamphetamine, Suboxone, multiple stolen items from recent burglaries, and a check written by a Salyersville doctor to the victims’ business—fraudulently endorsed by Gatewood.
During questioning, Gatewood allegedly confessed to breaking into three homes and stealing items. He also admitted the drugs found were his and acknowledged trying to cash the stolen check.
Gatewood now faces several charges including:
Burglary
Receiving stolen property
Identity theft
Possession of methamphetamine
Other related offenses
Although Daniels was not linked to the theft or drug charges, she was arrested due to an outstanding warrant for failing to appear in court on a misdemeanor assault case from May.
Both Gatewood and Daniels are being held at the Big Sandy Regional Detention Center in Paintsville.
