Diesel Brothers’ David Sparks arrested in Utah on contempt of court accusation
Oct 7, 2025, 12:25 PM | Updated: 2:43 pm
David "Heavy D" Sparks works on a truck June 2, 2018. Sparks, a member of the former Discovery Channel TV show "Diesel Brothers" has been arrested and taken to a Utah jail. (KSL TV)
(KSL TV)
SALT LAKE CITY — David Sparks of TV show Diesel Brothers and YouTube channel HeavyDSparks was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail on Tuesday amid legal issues stemming from his alleged failure to pay plaintiffs in a 2021 case.
Court documents from Oct. 2 show defendants, including Sparks, Joshua Stuart, Diesel Power Gear LLC and B&W Auto LLC, were found jointly liable to pay Utah Physicians for a Healthy Environment over violations to the Clean Air Act.
The initial suit alleged that the Diesel Brothers “knowingly remov(ed) federally-required pollution control equipment on diesel vehicles,” and manufactured, sold and installed after-market exhaust systems. The court ruled against the Diesel Brothers, and they were ordered to pay $843,602.23 in penalties in 2021.
But Sparks and his codefendants never paid up, the documents say, and they were found in contempt of the order on June 24, 2024.
In January, a judge again ordered the fees be paid, court documents state, asking Sparks and the other defendants “to produce various documents and information to Plaintiff.” The order warned the defendants that failure to do so would result in their arrest.
Then, a second order was filed by the court after the defendants failed to comply.
“Defendants have failed to demonstrate their compliance with the Fees Order and First and Second Enforcement Orders,” the order states.
On Oct. 2, a bench warrant was signed, ordering the arrest of Sparks for contempt of court.
Booking information showed that Sparks was taken into custody on Tuesday, and the Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Office said federal marshals carried out the arrest.
Sparks’ hearing was scheduled for Wednesday, but court documents filed by the defense asked the court to postpone the hearing until Thursday or Friday, citing scheduling conflicts.
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This is a developing story. It may be updated.
