Staff Report

Michelle Lynn Fulton

WARSAW — A Warsaw woman was recently arrested for allegedly stealing merchandise from Walmart on multiple occasions.

Michelle Lynn Fulton, 38, 3489 W. 100S Lot 9, Warsaw, is charged with two counts of corrupt business influence, both level 5 felonies; theft, contributing to the delinquency of a minor, and six counts of theft with a prior conviction enhancement, all level 6 felonies; and five counts of theft and contributing to the delinquency of a minor, all class A misdemeanors.

On Nov. 9, a Warsaw Police officer responded to a theft report at Walmart. Fulton entered a self-checkout lane with a child and failed to scan a queen-sized air mattress valued at $112. They paid for small food items but left the store without paying for the air mattress.

On Nov. 22, Fulton went to Walmart and failed to scan several items, with the store suffering a loss of $88.54. The child was also present during this incident.

Later that same day, Fulton went to Walmart again with two people and stole another queen-sized air mattress. The group all left the store without paying for the mattress, valued at $118.

On Dec. 17, a Walmart loss prevention employee emailed a Warsaw Police officer about several additional thefts involving Fulton.

Surveillance footage showed Fulton in the store on Dec. 1, 14, and 17.

According to court documents, on Dec. 1 and 14, Fulton allegedly entered the store with the child and stole $308.91 worth of merchandise.

On Dec. 17, Fulton entered Walmart with four young adults, one of whom was the child mentioned in the previous incidents. While at a self-checkout, Fulton ticket switched items and also failed to pay for several items in her cart. The total loss to the store was $227.80. Surveillance footage showed the child assisting Fulton with bagging items.

On Dec. 22, Walmart employees alerted law enforcement to Fulton’s presence in the store. While officers were en route, they received information about Fulton and another person leaving the store and attempting to steal merchandise.

Upon arrival, officers saw Fulton holding two grocery bags of merchandise which she was unable to provide a receipt for.

Surveillance footage from Dec. 22 showed Fulton failing to pay for several items. Fulton attempted to steal $1,142.26 of merchandise from the store at that time.

Fulton has prior convictions for theft, possession of methamphetamine, and check deception. She was also on pretrial release at the time of these incidents for false informing.

Fulton was booked in the Kosciusko County Jail on Dec. 22.