Several face retail theft charges
A Canton Township woman was arrested Thursday on drug and retail theft charges after the Washington County District Attorney’s Drug Task Force served a search warrant at her home as part of an ongoing investigation.
Dechaunta Darcel Jolly, 29, of 33 Griffith Ave., was one of several people who South Strabane Township police filed charges against this week at the office of District Judge Jay Weller for allegedly stealing from Walmart, Trinity Point.
Jolly along with her alleged accomplices, Jessica Sue Post, 32, and Jason Paul Amos, 33, both of 113 Gibson Ave., Washington, are accused of either stealing or having property that had been stolen from the store on Dec. 21. Amos, Post and the stolen items, valued at $427, were found in a minivan parked in the lot.
When Jolly returned to the vehicle about 30 minutes later, police found she had a large amount of cash along with six Oxycodone pills and Suboxone. They also determined that Jolly, who owned the van, had a suspended license.
The task force served the search warrant as part of an investigation into the alleged sale of drugs from her home and seized Suboxone and a semiautomatic handgun.
Jolly was arraigned Thursday before Weller on charges of conspiracy, retail theft, possession and possession with intent to deliver Oxycodone, possession of Suboxone, receiving stolen property and driving with a suspended license. She was placed in Washington County jail on $30,000 bond. Charges against Post and Amos were sent by summons from Weller’s office.
Police filed theft-related charges against eight others this week.
Brittany E. Mancini, 20, of 93 Browntown Road, Avella; David Gaito, 24, of 850 Broad St., Washington; and Susan M. McMasters, 24, of 40 Belaire Drive, Canton Township, face charges stemming from a Feb. 21 incident.
Gaito and McMasters are accused of stealing items while Mancini and McMasters reportedly tried to exchange some of the items for gift cards. Mancini is charged with theft by deception. Gaito is charged with retail theft and conspiracy while McMasters is charged with retail theft, conspiracy and theft by deception.
Melanie Riggans, 52, of 42 Oak Springs Road, West Finley, is charged with felony retail theft for allegedly stealing four items on March 2. Carrie Benitez, 38, of 3406 Route 136, Finleyville, is charged with retail theft for allegedly stealing a coffee maker on March 7.
Bethany Lynn Lockerbie, 22, of Carnegie, was charged with retail theft and theft by deception after stolen items were returned for a gift card on March 29.
Samantha Rae Thomas, 22, of 293 McClay Road, Washington, and Paul Pivirotto, 28, of 51 Lyman Ave., Washington, were charged with retail theft, theft by deception and conspiracy for allegedly stealing automotive supplies on March 25. They allegedly then went to customer service in an attempt to return the items for a gift card.
All bur Jolly’s charges will be sent by summons from Weller’s office.