Most people believe that when they park their vehicle in front of a convenience store, it will still be there when they come back out. That wasn't the case for one Boone County man.

What the victim first believed to be a practical joke soon turned out to be a car theft.

According to J.T. Adams of the Madison Police, James O. Daniels parked his blue, four door Chevy Cavalier on the side of the Little General in Madison facing Rt. 17 and entered the store. When he returned, the vehicle was gone.

Daniels walked to the Madison City Park to see if the vehicle had been taken there as a practical joke, but when he arrived, the car was not there.

The same day, at approximately 4:51 p.m., Boone 911 dispatched a call of vehicles driving recklessly on Low Gap road.

Responding to the scene, Trooper C.R. Sutphin discovered a Chevy pickup truck parked on the shoulder of the southbound lane of Rt. 119.

Assisting Sutphin was M.S. Lively, also of the West Virginia State Police.

Shortly afterward, Hardee arrived with an employee of Bender's Salvage Yard, Clyde Bender.

According to the criminal complaint, Hardee had driven a vehicle fitting the description of the stolen car to Bender's Salvage Yard, while Cooper drove in front of her in his black Chevy pickup until it broke down and he got in the car with her.

She received $150 for the vehicle at Bender's and was given a ride back to the truck, according to Lively's report.

When they passed the vehicle, the police were waiting, so Cooper asked to be dropped off at Turtle Mart and Hardee rode to the vehicle with Bender, who had agreed to give them a ride to the truck, according to the report.

Hardee explained to Sutphin that she had sold the vehicle that had belonged to her aunt, but later confessed to theft after being questioned, according to the report.

The pair was transported to State Police headquarters in Danville where, according to police, Cooper gave his name as Roger Dale Cooper Jr., age 27.

Cooper allegedly signed several documents, including a Miranda rights form and two fingerprint cards with that name.

In addition to charges of grand larceny and conspiracy, Cooper was charged with forging a public document and identity theft, according to court documents.

Hardee was charged with transferring stolen property, conspiracy and grand larceny.

The two were arraigned at Southwestern Regional Jail in Holden on Friday, December 22 via video by Magistrate Porter Snodgrass, who set bail for both at $80,000 surety or $8,000 cash, according to court documents.

Both are out of jail on bond, awaiting separate preliminary hearings which are not yet set.

For the charges of conspiracy and grand larceny, both defendants could face up to 15 years in jail or a fine of up to $10,000.

If convicted for transferring stolen property, Hardee could serve up to 10 years in addition to the other charges.

For the charges of identity theft and forging public documents, Cooper could face up to 15 years and/or a fine of up to $10,000.