By Kathy McCarty
Staff Writer
PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — Three individuals are facing felony charges following an investigation by the Presque Isle Police Department of at least two shoplifting cases involving thousands of dollars in merchandise that was stolen from Walmart. “Officials with asset protection at the Walmart Supercenter got information that three people were involved in a theft on Dec. 15. As a result of that incident, Christy Curry, 38, of Presque Isle, was charged with theft, a Class D crime,” said Joey Seeley, investigating officer with the PIPD.
According to Seeley, Walmart reported Curry had attempted to walk out with 78 items in a cart.
“When Curry was arrested, four additional items were located. The approximate value of these items was $646.70,” Seeley said. “She was given a Jan. 22, 2014 Presque District Court date and was bailed from the station.”
Seeley said following Curry’s arrest, asset protection determined — using surveillance video — that Curry and two other individuals were involved in the theft of multiple items the previous day.
“As a result of the previous day’s incident, we investigated the reported theft and recovered 114 items valued at $1,235.91. The merchandise was recovered from a Presque Isle residence,” said Seeley, noting the investigation continued over the next couple days.
“Over the course of the investigation, we recovered an additional 57 items valued at $960.80,” said Seeley. “All the merchandise was taken from Walmart. They had quite the Christmas wish list, including: garbage cans, tray tables, bakeware, purses, area rugs, mops, storage containers and more. The total value of the merchandise we’ve recovered to date is just over $2,800.”
Curry and two other individuals were charged in connection with these thefts.
Curry, as well as Leasha Law, 39, of Presque Isle, and Wayde Trotter, 52, of Presque Isle, were charged with Class C theft, which is a felony because the items are valued at more than $1,000. They were each given a Feb. 18, 2014 Caribou Superior Court date.
The case remains under investigation.
“Asset protection is reviewing more film and we’re still in the process of recovering more items,” said Seeley.
