Posted on 07/29/2004 6:03:54 AM PDT by Born Conservative
WILKES-BARRE TWP. - It was only a half gallon of ice cream, but it might bring the scales of justice crashing down on Kimberli Weiland, police said.
Luzerne County's former human resources director was arrested Wednesday on a shoplifting charge, making it the third time she has been charged with retail theft since May.
Depending on the outcome of the previous cases, the latest charge could become a felony and result in jail time, said township Detective Charles Dyanick.
In the latest episode, Weiland, also known as Kimberli Aboyade, stole a half gallon of "peanut brickle" ice cream from Turkey Hill Minit Market at 340 Wilkes-Barre Township Blvd., according to investigating officers Dyanick, Sgt. Thomas Elick and Patrolman Scott Lamoreaux. According to arrest papers, she told the store manager she put the ice cream in her purse to keep it from melting.
While being led to her arraignment before District Justice Michael Dotzel, Weiland faulted the Times Leader for her problems with the law.
"It's because of your paper," she told a reporter. Later, she said, "Every time you put me in the paper something like this occurs."
A story about Weiland appeared in Wednesday's paper. She would not elaborate or comment further. She told Dotzel she did not leave the store with the ice cream.
She was released on $5,000 bail and a preliminary hearing was scheduled for 1 p.m. Tuesday before Dotzel.
According to arrest papers: Weiland entered the store at about 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, walked to the freezer and placed the ice cream, valued at $4.19, in her purse. She walked to the exit and was stopped at the door by an assistant manager. She told him she had placed the ice cream in her purse to keep it from melting.
Weiland also might face charges in a shoplifting incident at Sunshine Market in Plains Township. Chief Ed Walsh said an officer was called to the market June 21 to help identify a woman being held by store security. The officer identified the woman as Weiland, Walsh said.
Walsh said police did not take her into custody, but he expects Sunshine will file a private criminal complaint against her.
In May, Weiland, 33, of Plains Township, was charged with stealing from Wal-Mart SuperCenter in Wilkes-Barre Township. She pleaded no contest to that charge Tuesday and paid a fine and court costs.
In June, she was charged with shoplifting from Target, also in the township, and has pleaded not guilty. If she is convicted on that charge, the shoplifting charge filed Wednesday would become a felony, Dyanick said.
If convicted of the felony, Weiland could face a maximum sentence of 3 1/2 to seven years in jail, said criminal defense attorney Nanda Palissery, who does not represent Weiland and is not involved in any of the cases.
Speaking generally, Palissery said he would advise clients in similar situations to undergo mental evaluations. By doing so, they are showing the judge they are doing their best to address any problems, he said.
Weiland, who has a law degree, was being paid a salary of $65,000 a year before being fired by the county in June after a Times Leader investigation revealed she had criminal charges against her in Ohio and Indiana.
The investigation also uncovered she had been disbarred by the South Carolina State Supreme Court for altering her law school transcripts.
If not, she certainly should.
me too
That photo has to be mislabelled.
I thought the same thing about Scott Weiland. That poor guy is not long for this world.
How did "it" ever get hired for a City position in the first place??!??!!?!? If the City gave this thing a job, obviously they have very low standards....
It's a real shame too, guy has (had) an incredible set of pipes, I hate to see a good voice go to waste.
But on the lighter side, I can sympathize with the he/she.. I mean.. hey.. purses are an excellent place to keep your ice cream from melting, I do that all the time.. snicker...
This person must have taken tips on "storage" from Sandy Berger. The Berger School of Burglary: In business since 19?????
Victimhood perfected! a perfect candidate for the DNC. Tell her not to worry - "Hope is on the way!"
Hey, he/she learned from the best then.. stuff the goods wherever you can find room!
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