×

Defendant pleads guilty in theft ring

Setser charged in string of incidents that targeted Walmart stores

CLEARFIELD — An Altoona man accused of being involved with a theft ring targeting Walmart stores pleaded guilty Monday in Clearfield County.

John Wayne Setser, 32, was originally charged with felony conspiracy, retail theft and receiving stolen property in relation to thefts at the Clearfield Walmart.

After he pleaded guilty to misdemeanor retail theft, he was sentenced by Judge Paul E. Cherry to 60 days to one year in jail with three years’ concurrent probation. He has been incarcerated since his Dec. 14 arrest.

He must also pay over $1,900 in restitution.

Previously, Tammi Marie Koch, 37, also of Altoona, was arrested after she returned to the Clearfield Walmart in December.

According to Koch’s affidavit of probable cause, she was part of a larger investigation into thefts at several Walmart stores both in and out of Pennsylvania. Koch was identified as the “main female involved.”

A Walmart employee on a task force told police Koch and a man later identified as Setser “pushed a cart full of merchandise, worth $1,664.49, past all points of sale” and made no effort to pay on Sept. 23.

Surveillance video reportedly shows the pair filling up a cart with clothing, household items, computer accessories and other items before they walk out through the self-checkout area with their cart and leave the store.

The alarm went off, but they did not stop and continued to the parking lot where they loaded everything in a white Toyota sedan.

Koch’s case is still pending. She is free on $15,000 bail which was posted on Feb. 7, according to online court documents.

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
   

COMMENTS

[vivafbcomment]

Starting at $4.39/week.

Subscribe Today