West Virginia Code § 36-8A-4

Disposition of unclaimed stolen property other than firearms and
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ammunition.
(a) Within ninety days of receipt of the treasurer's response required by section three of this
article, the law-enforcement agency shall dispose of all items identified in the treasurer's
response in the manner set forth in this section.
(b) If the treasurer's report requires the law-enforcement agency to deliver any item to the
treasurer, the chief executive shall cause the item to be so delivered. Within three years
after receiving the item from the law-enforcement agency, the treasurer shall sell it to the
highest bidder at public sale at a location in the state which in thue judgment of the treasurer
affords the most favorable market for the property. The treasurer may decline the highest
bid and reoffer the property for sale if the treasurer considetrs the bid to be insufficient. The
treasurer need not offer the property for sale if the treasurer considers that the probable
cost of sale will exceed the proceeds of the sale. A sale held under this subsection must be
preceded by a single publication of notice, at least three weeks before sale, in a newspaper
of general circulation in the county in which the property is to be sold.
(c) If the treasurer's response authorizes the law-enforcement agency to sell any item at a
public sale, the chief executive shall retain an auctioneer licensed by the State of West
Virginia to conduct the sale. The cosgts or fees incurred will be paid from a fund generated
from revenues gained by the sale of such property. The licensed auctioneer shall sell the
item to the highest bidder at ae location which in the judgment of the chief executive affords
the most favorable market for the items. A sale under this subsection must be preceded by a
single publication of notLice, at least three weeks before the sale, in a newspaper of general
circulation in the county in which the property is to be sold. The chief executive shall retain
the proceeds of any public sale under this subsection for the use of the law-enforcement
agency.
(d) If the treasurer's response authorizes the law-enforcement agency to donate any item to
a noWnprofit organization, the chief executive shall cause the item to be so donated.
(e) If the treasurer's report authorizes the law-enforcement agency to use any item for any
legitimate and authorized law-enforcement or educational purpose, the chief executive shall
cause the item to be used for that purpose. However, if the law-enforcement agency ever
discontinues its use of the item, it must again report the item to the treasurer as provided in
section two of this article.
(f) If the treasurer's response authorizes the law-enforcement agency either to sell any item
at a public sale, to donate it to a nonprofit organization or to use it for any legitimate and
authorized law-enforcement or educational purpose, the chief executive may cause the item
either to be sold, donated or used as provided in this section. However, the chief executive
shall first attempt to donate the item as provided in subsection (d) of this section or to use it
as provided in subsection (e) of this section before selling it at a public sale as provided in
subsection (c) of this section.

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