Seven additional people have been charged with theft in connection with allegations they stole merchandise from Theodosias Dollar General store with the aid of former store employee, 53-year-old Kenneth Smith. Citing officials familiar with the case, the Ozark County Times reports in addition to the seven, other suspects are expected to be charged.
Smith is alleged to have approached multiple customers during his work shifts asking them to slip him cash in exchange for free merchandise. He is charged with felony stealing. He was originally held on a $25,000 cash-only bond. During a March 27th hearing, he was allowed to be released with supervision by Court Probationary Services. He is scheduled to return for a criminal hearing on June 12th.
Others now charged in the case are 57-year-old David Edward Lee, 53-year-old Georgette Reynolds, 41-year-old Nathan Stafford, 17-year-old Johnathan Snelson, and 19-year-old Angel Reynolds, all of Theodosia, 49-year-old David Burks of Gainesville, and 24-year-old Kameron Stillwell of Thornfield.
According to the probable cause statement, video surveillance from the store showed Lee removing items on 19 different occasions between December 2017 and February without paying for them. The video footage reportedly showed Lee removing 17 full shopping carts, three bags, three tote bags, one trash can, two yellow baskets and miscellaneous handfuls of merchandise during that time.
When law enforcement spoke with Lee, he reportedly admitted he did remove items from the Dollar General store with Smiths assistance. Lee said he sold a vehicle to Smith for $400, and the two men had an agreement where Smith would allow Lee to leave the store with merchandise without paying in exchange for the money Smith owed him for the car.
The probable cause statement in Georgette Reynolds’ case indicates store video surveillance shows the woman removing items without paying for them on 21 different occasions. During the last transaction on film, Smith reportedly hands cash from the register to Reynolds. When Reynolds was interviewed, the statement says she told law enforcement she removed items from the Dollar General store with Smiths assistance. She reportedly told the officer she knew it was wrong but went along with Smith anyway.
In Stafford’s case, the probable cause statement indicates he is shown on surveillance video footage leaving the store with a full cart of merchandise without paying. Stafford is also filmed at 9:32 p.m. February 17th leaving with another full cart of merchandise without paying, returning four minutes later at 9:36 p.m. with another person and leaving with two additional carts of items.
When law enforcement spoke with Stafford, he reportedly admitted to taking the items from the store with Smiths help. Stafford reportedly told law enforcement it occurred twice when he had his children with him and once when another person was with him.
Snelson told law enforcement Smith approached him in August 2017 and told him he would let him leave the store with items if he gave him cash. Snelson also said he exchanged the cash for cigarettes with Smith at the Theodosia Bridge, a local convenience store and other locations. Snelson said he would usually give him $5 or $10 cash in exchange for five packages of cigarettes. Snelson also reportedly said Smith accepted marijuana cigarettes in exchange for items on two occasions in the store. Snelson said he received about $100 worth of items from Smith.
The probable cause statement in Angel Reynold’s case indicates video surveillance shows her and another woman leaving the Theodosia Dollar General store with a full shopping cart of merchandise without paying for the items.
Reynolds and the other woman told an officer they removed the items from the store without paying for them after Smith would allegedly fake scan items and then give them to Reynolds. She said she knew it was wrong but went along with Smith anyway.
Burks pleaded guilty to misdemeanor level stealing in connection with taking items from the store with Smiths aid. He was given a suspended imposition of sentence and placed on supervised probation for two years.
Burks was reportedly filmed on surveillance video taking items from the store on five occasions.
Burks told law enforcement Smith approached him and told him he would give him a deal on the merchandise if Burks would pay him in cash. Burks said he would bring the items to the register, and Smith would falsely act like he was scanning the items before handing them to Burks. Burks said he would give Smith $5 or $10 in cash each time, and Smith put the cash in his pocket.
The video surveillance reportedly shows Stillwell and a companion leaving the store without paying for items twice, with the Dollar General Loss Prevention Department estimates the value to be between $50 and $100.
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