A Spencer man sought since July 24 has been arrested by federal marshals near Mansfield, OH, and is being held in the Richland County Jail.

Jay Summerfield, 42, of Spring Creek Road, Spencer, has been sought by the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department and West Virginia State Police since July 24, after tips led investigators to find over $150,000 worth of stolen machinery at a Caven Fork Road farm.

Summerfield’s brother Jason Summerfield, 34, was arrested and charged with four felony counts of bringing stolen property into the state. Jay Summerfield was also charged with four felony counts but was not located at the time. Outstanding warrants have been active for over a month.

In additon, a search of Summerfield’s Spencer home discovered stolen property, firearms and some 43 marijuana plants with a street value of $86,000. A .45 caliber pistol and small caliber rifle and ammunition was seized. Jay Summerfield is not allowed to possess firearms after earlier felony convictions in Ohio and Florida. He will also face firearms and drugs charges.

Lt. Tony Boggs and Capt. Herb Faber of the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department were accompanied to the Caven Ford Road farm by Deputy Joshua Staats of the Washington County (OH) Sheriff’s Department after Staats receive an anonymous tip that a pair of tractors stolen in May from Hurst Tractor Sales in Marietta, OH, were at the Summerfield’s property on Caven Fork Road. Jackson County Sheriff’s Cpl. Roger Rhodes also received a call about stolen machinery at the Summerfield property.

Boggs, Faber and Staats went to the farm to question the Summerfields and found a tandem axle trailer near the residence with the serial number ground off and other pieces of machinery. A John Deere tractor reported stolen from Wayne County, OH, was found  with its ignition switch removed and “hot-wired.” A Kubota tractor stolen from the Marietta dealership was also found on the property.

A search warrant was subsequently executed and the investigators found several more pieces of stolen equipment mostly from Ohio including a New Holland TN85A farm tractor, a Kubota B25 tractor with loader and backhoe, a John Deere tractor and a Polaris 800 ATV.

Other items including chainsaws, weedeaters, two skid steers, a Kubota RTV, a round bailer, motorcycle, U-Haul car hauler, four wheelers and more were found with the serial numbers scratched off and VIN tags missing.

Jason Summerfield was arraigned on the charges and is free pending further court action after posting $250,000 bond.

Boggs said extradiction proceedings are underway to return Jay Summerfield to Jackson County to face the felony charges here and in Roane County as well as additional charges in Washington County, OH.