Harold Dean Kanupp
Kanupp entered a guilty plea to the charges of felony larceny, attempted felony larceny and habitual larceny, along with admission of habitual felon status during the August 4, 2025, session of court in Catawba County. Three weeks after entering the guilty plea, he also had another habitual larceny charge that he pleaded to on Wednesday to receive final judgment on all matters.
The length of his sentence was enhanced by prior felony convictions for larceny (September 2019 and February 2007) in Catawba County, and break/enter motor vehicle (May 1995) in Burke County.
His habitual larceny conviction stemmed from prior convictions for misdemeanor larceny (May 2024 and May 1995) in Catawba and Burke counties, and felony larceny (September 2019 and February 2007), both in Catawba County.
In October 2023, a report of a stolen lawn mower was investigated. Kanupp was seen on video surveillance being dropped off at a business and taking a mower off a trailer. He was identified as the driver. In June 2024, the defendant was stopped by officers as he rode a lawn mower along U.S. 70 in Hickory. Further investigation showed that he had stolen the mower and later tried to sell it through his jail account while in custody.
In December 2024, Kanupp took food items and a generator through the self-checkout at a business. He paid for the food but not the generator and was stopped by loss prevention officers. The acts were captured on video. In August 2025, the defendant stole a leaf blower from a work truck. The incident was captured on video with Kanupp clearly visible. He also was wearing an ankle monitor while serving probation at the time of the theft.
The cases were investigated by Catawba and Hickory Police Departments.
Story: Rob Eastwood-WHKY