A 40-year-old Bloomfield woman landed herself in jail for allegedly taking items without paying for them from Linton Wal-Mart, a store she had been trespassed from twice.

Linton Police Department Officer Cayden Walker was dispatched to Linton Wal-Mart on Dec. 8 in regards to a shoplifter — later identified as Charlotta Lucielle Preece. According to a probable cause affidavit written by Walker, a case report provided by a Wal-Mart Asset Protection employee stated an employee observed Preece select a package of underwear and a ring. According to the employee, Preece placed the ring on top of her hoodie and underwear underneath the hoodie. The report alleged one package of underwear was rang up when checking out, but a second package was not. As she was leaving the grocery center doors, she dropped the ring, which had not been paid for. At that time, she brought the ring back to an associate, but still had a package of underwear concealed.

When speaking with Preece, she told Walker that while shopping she got hot and put her coat down. She alleged she put all of her extra items away and gave them to the clerk. She advised Walker she did not know the ring was still in her cart and asked why she would be trying to give the ring back if she was trying to steal it.

When asked if she had ever been trespassed from Wal-Mart before, she said the charges had been dropped so she thought the trespass order had been dropped. According to a Wal-Mart Asset Protection employee, Preece had been trespassed from the store in 2013 and again in 2021. She was presented with the most recent trespass order, which she signed on Dec. 29, 2021.

Preece was transported to Greene County Jail where her bond was set at $1,000 surety with 10% cash allowed. She posted $100 and was released later the same day.

She is preliminary being charged with theft and criminal mischief, both Class A Misdemeanors.