NASHVILLE – A Nashville woman accused of stealing over $8,000 from the local Walmart entered a guilty plea to charges stemming from the incident Wednesday in Howard County Circuit Court.
Destiny Johnson, 19, was sentenced to eight years of probation and fined $1,500 on a single charge of theft of property. She must also pay restitution to the retail giant within 30 days.
According to court documents, the charge against Johnson is the result of an investigation that began Dec. 3, 2014, when a manager at the store alleged Johnson “was loading money on gift cards ranging from $50 to $900 and never receiving money from any customers for the transactions.”
The affidavit of arrest attached to Johnson’s case file indicates that surveillance cameras at the store captured Johnson in the act, sometimes when customers weren’t even at her register. The cards were later used in Nashville, Hope, Texarkana and De Queen, the affidavit alleges.
During a subsequent interview, Johnson allegedly admitted to putting money on the cards and using them, but denied the amount that was reported and claimed some of the transactions were mistakes.
In other court news, a number of suspects made first appearances on unrelated charges.
Lacory Conway, 25, of Hope, appeared on charges of fleeing in a motor vehicle and false imprisonment, and was ordered to return to court July 8 for arraignment.
David Bentley, 50, of Nashville, appeared on two charges of delivery of a controlled substance and two counts of distribution near certain facilities, and was ordered to return to court July 8 for arraignment.
Prince Thomas, 35, of Hope, appeared on charges of possession of methamphetamine with purpose to deliver, tampering with physical evidence and felony fleeing, and was ordered to return to court July 8 for arraignment.
Deangelo Coulter, 20, of Nashville, appeared on three charges of commercial burglary and a single count of theft of property, and was ordered to return to court July 8 for arraignment.
Lawrence Benson Jr., 18, of Nashville, appeared on two charges of commercial burglary and was ordered to return to court July 8 for arraignment.
Jamar Ellis, 23, of Lewisville, appeared on a charge of fourth degree sexual assault and was ordered to return to court July 8 for arraignment.
