BY DAN HILDEBRAN
A woman who tried to avoid arrest by hiding behind a dumpster was sentenced to 14 months with the Department of Corrections after pleading to stealing clothes from Starke’s Walmart.
Amanda Fyffe, 45, of Ocala, pleaded to felony petit theft.
According to an April 12 arrest report, a store loss prevention officer told deputies she witnessed the 45-year-old take the outerwear, later valued at $302.98, from store shelves and leave the building without paying for the merchandise.
“(The store employee) advised that after the individual loaded the stolen goods in the car, she noticed she was being watched and then started walking East, away from the car,” wrote a deputy in the arrest report. “I drove in the direction the suspect walked towards and was able to locate an individual matching the description hiding near the dumpster behind the Jackson Hewitt building.”
The officer reported that Fyffe admitted to leaving the store with the clothing.
“Amanda stated she walked out with the items because she thought the person she was with was paying for them for her,” the deputy wrote. “I asked if Amanda scanned the items for purchase, and she advised that she did not. Amanda advised she was with a Hispanic male and was unsure exactly what his name was.”
The defendant’s prior convictions include giving false identification to law enforcement, driving with a suspended or revoked license, use or possession of drug paraphernalia, prostitution, possession of a controlled substance without a prescription, possession of less than 20 grams of cannabis, felony petit theft, and sale of cocaine.
