Community Corner

No Freedom on Independence Day for Suspected Alcohol Thief

Police say a woman tried to steal four bottles of alcohol from Walmart on the 4th of July.

A 38-year-old Racine woman is facing almost a year in jail after police say she tried to steal four bottles of liquor on the 4th of July from Walmart.

Kathy Gonzalez was charged Friday in Racine County Circuit Court with one misdemeanor count of retail theft, repeater. If convicted, she faces up to nine months in jail and/or up to $10,000 in fines. Because she is considered a repeat offender for three previous retail theft convictions in 2012, Gonzalez could get extra time tacked onto whatever sentence she receives.

According to the criminal complaint, Mount Pleasant police were called to Walmart, 3049 Oakes Road, Thursday for a report of retail theft. When officers arrived, store security say they observed Gonzalez take four bottles of alcohol from the liquor department and then conceal the bottles in her purse while she was in the men's underwear aisles.

When security staff stopped her past the last point of purchase, she returned with them to the store's security office. MPPD officers questioned Gonzalez about whether not she took the liquor, and she admitted she had, the complaint reads.

Gonzalez was released from the Racine County Jail Friday after she posted $100 cash bond. She will next be in court on July 25.


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