why did david sparks go to jail

David Sparks, known as "Heavy D" from the Discovery Channel's Diesel Brothers, went to jail because a federal judge found him in contempt of court for repeatedly and willfully violating court orders related to a lawsuit under the Clean Air Act. Specifically, he failed to pay an $843,602 judgment, did not provide required financial records, transferred vehicles against court orders, and did not deposit proceeds from company liquidations into a court-ordered account. The court authorized his arrest and jail until he complies by paying the fines and meeting all conditions. This is a civil detention linked to failure to comply with court mandates, not a criminal charge. He was arrested on October 7, 2025, in Salt Lake City and held in county jail pending compliance with the court's orders.