Justin William Kelly

WARSAW — A Wabash man faces charges after allegedly attempting to take merchandise from Walmart without paying for it.

Justin William Kelly, 42, 263 Hale Drive, Wabash, is charged with theft, a level 6 felony; and criminal trespass, a class A misdemeanor. 

According to the affidavit of probable cause, on Nov. 17, an office with Warsaw Police Department was dispatched to Walmart in reference to a theft that occurred on Nov. 15.

Upon arrival, the officer spoke with an asset protection employee who said that Kelly was the suspect. The employee said that on Nov. 15, Kelly entered the store and selected multiple items of merchandise and placed those items in a cart. In surveillance footage, Kelly can be seen placing merchandise into bags that he brought into Walmart.

He was then observed passing all points of sale without attempting to purchase the merchandise. An employee stopped Kelly as he was leaving the store, and Kelly then left without the merchandise.

The total value of the items Kelly had in the cart was $873.69. The asset protection employee said the Warsaw Walmart was contacted by someone from a Walmart in another location and provided with a trespass warning. The trespass order was signed by Kelly on Nov. 3, 2017, and prohibits him from entering any Walmart stores or property.

The officer contacted Kelly by phone, and Kelly allegedly admitted that he was at Walmart on Nov. 15. He attempted to say that a friend of his had purchased the merchandise; however, surveillance footage showed that Kelly did not have a friend with him at Walmart on Nov. 15. 

Kelly was booked at the Kosciusko County Jail Dec. 15, on a $5,250 surety and cash bond.