By SYDNEY KENT
A husband and wife from Bluffton are facing felony-level charges for corrupt business influence after they were caught repeatedly stealing from Walmart.
On Jan. 18, Walmart Asset Protection reported a series of ongoing thefts using the “scan and go” system from several of their employees. The employees were identified as Brett and Morgan Rowles.
Brett Allen Rowles, 28, is charged with one count of corrupt business influence, a Level 5 felony, and 23 counts of theft, all Class A misdemeanors. His bond is set at $30,500.
Morgan Marie Rowles, 24, is charged with one count of corrupt business influence, a Level 5 felony, and 22 counts of theft, all Class A misdemeanors. She posted bond last week.
Both parties entered preliminary pleas of not guilty.
In a probable cause affidavit, over 20 incidents were described where the couple would place items in their cart, only scanning a portion of the items. On several occasions, the couple had children with them.
The dates on the charges begin in October, with the most recent crime of theft allegedly occurring in January. The Bluffton Walmart requested restitution for a total of $3,881.69 worth of stolen items.
Morgan Rowles is scheduled for a pretrial conference in the matter at 1 p.m. on Aug. 7 in the Wells Circuit Court.
Brett Rowles is scheduled for a bail review hearing at 9 a.m. on July 17 in the Wells Circuit Court.
sydney@news-banner.com
