Multiple Law Enforcement Agencies Involved in Larceny Arrest

Cherokee County Sheriff's Office

Press Release

The Cherokee County Sheriff's Office has charged a suspect following an investigation into the theft of a side-by-side utility vehicle from the Bear Paw Resort community.

On July 18, 2026, a resident of Bear Paw Resort in the Hiawassee Dam community reported that his 2013 Polaris side-by-side had been stolen while he was away from his residence that evening.

Detectives with the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office immediately began investigating the case by collecting surveillance footage from the area and pursuing every available lead. Their investigation ultimately led to Monroe County, Tennessee, where Cherokee County Detectives worked in close collaboration with the Monroe County Sheriff's Office.

As a result of that joint investigation, 27-year-old Matthew Claude Hughes, a former resident of the Hiawassee Dam area, was located and arrested by Monroe County authorities on July 29, 2026.

During an interview conducted at the Monroe County Detention Center, Hughes admitted to Cherokee County Detectives that his girlfriend, Hailey, drove him to the Bear Paw Resort area and dropped him off. Investigators say Hughes entered the resort through a wooded area, hot-wired the Polaris side-by-side, and drove it back to Tennessee.

Hughes is currently being held at the Monroe County Detention Center on outstanding Tennessee warrants and for violating the terms of his probation. He also has an outstanding Cherokee County warrant for Felony Larceny, which will be served upon his extradition to Cherokee County, North Carolina.

Sheriff Chris Wood stated, "This case is an excellent example of the dedication of our detectives and the value of strong partnerships between neighboring law enforcement agencies. I want to thank the Monroe County Sheriff's Office for their outstanding cooperation and assistance in bringing this investigation to a successful conclusion."

As with all criminal cases, the charge is an allegation, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.