Woman Accused of Stealing Baby Formula to Sell, Pay for Cancer Meds

A Racine woman is in jail after allegedly telling officers she stole baby formula to sell to pay for her cancer medications.

Therese Bolton, 39, was charged in Racine County Circuit Court with one misdemeanor count of retail theft and a felony count of bail jumping, repeater. If convicted, she faces up to six years, nine months in prison and/or up to $10,500 in fines.

According to the criminal complaint, Racine Police were called to Kmart, 2211 S. Green Bay Road, on Feb. 6 for a call of shoplifting. When officers arrived, store security said they saw Bolton put three cans of baby formula in her purse and then attempt to leave the store.

Reports indicate Bolton admitted to police that she took the baby formula to help her pay for her cancer medications. Officers say the defendant told them she didn't want to ask her family for the money, and this was the first time she was stealing formula.

Bolton was out on probation from a retail theft charge last November, and her probation officer asked police to take Bolton into custody on a probation hold. She remains in the Racine County Jail on a $1,500 cash bond.

She will next be in court for a preliminary hearing Feb. 13 before Court Commissioner Alice Rudebusch.