NEWS

Woman admits to clothing store robbery, gets jail time

Spencer Remoquillo
Reporter

LANCASTER – A Columbus woman was ordered to serve 90 days in jail after admitting to shoplifting at the River Valley Mall and threatening employees with pepper spray on Nov. 20.

“I’m sorry for wasting you guys’ time and for committing this silly act,” said 29-year-old Drelle M. Stevens during her sentencing hearing Thursday afternoon in Judge David Trimmer’s Fairfield County Common Pleas courtroom.

Trimmer said the crime wasn’t silly; it was serious when Stevens shoplifted pairs of jeans from The Buckle valued at $932 and attempted to discharge pepper spray at employees during her getaway from the store in November.

The theft was valued at less than $1,000, meaning it is considered petty and a first-degree misdemeanor. However, because Stevens threatened to use force against the employees, she was charged with robbery and pleaded guilty to that charge and two others — tampering with evidence and petty theft — in February.

Three other women also were arrested in connection to the case: Latoya Harris, 29, and Yolanda Vale, 28, who were allegedly with Stevens inside the mall, and Malika Kirk, 27, who was reportedly driving them when police arrested them. However, their charges, including complicity to commit robbery, were all dismissed.

Police said the women drove west on Memorial Drive toward Columbus — where they are from — when Fairfield County Sheriff’s Office deputies stopped their car at Gender Road and arrested them.

Trimmer sentenced Stevens to 42 months in prison, with all time suspended for probation. However, as part of Stevens’ probation requirements, she must fulfill a 90-day sentence in Fairfield County Jail and pay $400 in fines.

Trimmer said Stevens, who has a prior record, including an aggravated burglary conviction in Franklin County in 2009, needs to comply with all probation requirements or face prison time.

Stevens was banned from River Valley Mall and all The Buckle’s clothing stores. She also was ordered to have no contact with store employees.

sroush@lancastereaglegazette.com

740-681-4342

Twitter: @SpencerRoushLEG