A felony charge of receiving or transferring a stolen motor vehicle has been filed in San Juan County Magistrate Court following an investigation into a stolen pickup that was later located at a salvage yard, according to an affidavit for arrest warrant.
The investigation stems from a report that a 1986 GMC pickup had been taken from a property on U.S. 64 in Farmington and later discovered stripped of parts at a salvage yard near Kirtland, according to court records.
Report of Stolen Vehicle
According to the affidavit filed by a detective with the San Juan County Sheriff’s Office, a deputy was dispatched Oct. 29, 2024, at approximately 1:15 p.m. to speak with a man regarding a vehicle and firearms reported stolen from a property along U.S. 64 in Farmington.
The reporting party told law enforcement his 1986 GMC pickup had been taken from the property and that several firearms had been inside the vehicle at the time it disappeared, according to the affidavit.
Court records state the vehicle belonged to another individual who had left the truck at the property for repairs. When he returned to retrieve it, the truck was missing and he had been unable to contact the person who previously had possession of it.
Investigation Into Truck’s Location
The affidavit states investigators later contacted several individuals connected to the property and attempted to determine what had happened to the truck.
During the investigation, the vehicle owner told the detective he had heard through unidentified individuals that the truck may have been crushed at a local scrap yard. Investigators subsequently went to A1 Auto Salvage at 99 Road 6100 near Kirtland to inquire whether the vehicle had been processed there.
According to court records, employees at the salvage yard searched their system using the vehicle identification number and located a record showing the truck had been brought to the yard.
Truck Located at Salvage Yard
An employee told investigators the truck had been brought to the yard Oct. 22, 2024, and identified Darin Scott as the person who delivered it, according to the affidavit.
The employee also reported that a woman identified as Janis Brewton completed paperwork associated with the transaction.
Investigators were escorted into the salvage yard where they observed the truck. The affidavit states the vehicle was still recognizable by its body style and two-tone color scheme, but many parts had been removed, including the tires and several engine components.
The truck’s vehicle identification number was run through dispatch and confirmed as stolen in the National Crime Information Center database, according to court records.
Salvage Yard Paperwork
The detective later reviewed paperwork provided by the salvage yard related to the vehicle. According to the affidavit, a form signed by Brewton and dated Oct. 23, 2024, included the truck’s make, model, year and VIN.
The document also contained a statement indicating the person signing the form wanted the vehicle removed from their property and claimed to have no title or proof of ownership, according to the affidavit.
Scott is charged with receiving or transferring a stolen motor vehicle. In a separate but related case filed in the same court, Janis Brewton is charged with conspiracy to commit receiving or transferring stolen motor vehicles and fraud over $500, according to court records.
The allegation comes amid other recent vehicle-related cases in the county, including a Farmington insurance fraud investigation involving a reported stolen vehicle, according to court records.
Charges Filed
- Receiving or transferring stolen motor vehicles
Case Status
The charge was filed March 2, 2026, in Aztec Magistrate Court in San Juan County.
Source
The information is derived from an affidavit for arrest warrant filed in San Juan County Magistrate Court by the San Juan County Sheriff’s Office.
Darin Scott is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law. Charges are allegations. No determination of guilt has been made.