Michelle Ann Reavis

LEESBURG — A woman charged with theft as a misdemeanor, had the charge enhanced to a level 6 felony, due to a previous theft related conviction.

Michelle Ann Reavis, 32, 3699 N 175E, Warsaw, was arrested Wednesday on a charge of theft, a level 6 felony. Initially the charge was a class A misdemeanor, however, court documents state on or about April 23, 2013, she was convicted of the offense of conversion, raising the charge to the felony status. The enhancement is allowed by by state statute if a conviction on a similar charge has taken place.

The charge against Reavis stems from an incident at Leesburg Preschool on Oct. 2, when Sossity Goble, a preschool employee, reported her purse stolen. The purse contained $350 in cash, medication and paperwork.

According to the affidavit of probable cause, filed by Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Deputy Shane Bucher on Oct. 9, Goble stated she was the only teacher at the preshchool while children were arriving. Reavis, who did not use the drive-thru, parked her vehicle and entered the school through the west door. Goble stated she had put her purse on the kitchen counter. When other staff arrived, she went to look for her purse and could not locate it.

Goble was told by another individual that Reavis had taken the purse.

However Reavis stated she never went into the kitchen, but stayed in a breezeway area and stated another woman came into the school after she did. Police spoke with that individual who stated she saw Reavis and her son walk into the school. When she entered the school she saw Reavis in the kitchen, but never observed her in the breezeway.

She is being held on $5,000 surety and $250 cash bond.