MARSHALL COUNTY, WV (LOOTPRESS) – The Marshall County Sheriff’s Office has arrested Cody J. Lucey on felony charges of obtaining money, property, and services by false pretenses, along with a charge of petit larceny.
The charges stem from an alleged theft involving a Grand Champion bacon entry at a statewide FFA competition.
According to a complaint filed in Marshall County Magistrate Court, the investigation began after Cameron High School Principal Wyatt O’Neil reported concerns about a bacon sale at the WV FFA State Ham, Bacon, and Egg Show/Sale, held at Cedar Lakes Conference Center in Ripley.
An agriculture teacher reviewing the event noticed that two pieces of bacon appeared to be incorrectly tagged, both coming from the same side of a hog.
Student A’s Grand Champion bacon had already been sold at the Marshall County Sale on March 4, 2025, for $935.28.
Per standard procedure, it was supposed to be returned to the school for processing.
However, surveillance footage from March 7, 2025, reviewed by O’Neil and Deputy D. Schrack, allegedly shows Lucey—identified as Student B’s father—removing Student A’s bacon from the sold box, switching its tag, and replacing it with a different piece from the school’s meat lab.
The altered bacon was later shown by Student B at the WV State FFA competition, where it won Grand Champion honors and sold at auction for $2,100.
Lucey was taken into custody on March 19, 2025. All defendants are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
