By SYDNEY KENT
One-half of a married couple recently charged with corrupt business influence has pled guilty to the charges.
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. If the plea agreement is accepted by the court, all 23 counts of theft will be dismissed.
According to a probable cause affidavit, in January Walmart Asset Protection reported that a married couple had allegedly stolen from the company over 20 times.
Morgan Rowles, 24, was also charged with corrupt business influence, a Level 5 felony, and 19 counts of theft, all Class A misdemeanors. Both Morgan and Brett Rowles were reportedly employed by Walmart when the thefts occurred.
Between Oct. 29 and Jan. 16, the couple allegedly stole over $3,881.69 worth of products from multiple stores. Detective Cliff Thomas with the Bluffton Police Department reviewed the months worth of footage, noting that the couple would use the “Scan and Go” technology to scan several items while failing to scan or pay for the rest of their cart.
Rowles is scheduled for a sentencing hearing in the matter at 9 a.m. on Aug. 28. Morgan Rowles is scheduled for a pretrial conference in her case at 1 p.m. on August 7.
sydney@news-banner.com
