Woman accused of stealing from beer distributor waives some charges to court
All but four of the 152 charges filed against a West Brownsville woman accused of stealing $3,000 from a local beer distributor were withdrawn Monday.
Cheri LaPorte waived one count each of forgery, theft by unlawful taking, receiving stolen property and access device fraud to Washington County Court at her scheduled preiminary hearing before Magisterial District Judge Joshua Kanalis.
Police alleged LaPorte, 42, pocketed money from sales at Dukman’s Beer Distributor in West Brownsville between Dec. 9 and Jan. 22, using a credit card to mask the thefts.
While employed at the distributor as a cashier, LaPorte would allegedly pocket cash from customers following a sale and use a credit card without the knowledge of the customers or the credit card’s owner, according to the affidavit filed with the case.
Police stated that LaPorte did that 38 times, for a total of $3,067.07. The matter came to light when the distributor’s owner discovered what LaPorte was doing and compiled a list of transactions.
She was charged in the matter last month, and initially confined to Washington County Prison, unable to make $5,000 bond. Bond was posted on her behalf on March 2.