Butler man charged as a felon for repeat shoplifting
CENTER TWP — A repeat shoplifter is once again in trouble with the law.
Garrett Barnes, 32, of Butler, in his latest arrest last week, is accused of stealing a combined $296 in merchandise Nov. 18 from two stores at Clearview Mall in Center Township.
A week earlier, Butler Township police arrested Barnes for allegedly taking two large televisions from the Walmart at Butler Commons shopping plaza.
The defendant, who has three prior shoplifting convictions, remains in Butler County Prison on a probation violation.
State police said Barnes was caught in the act while placing a cologne set at Clearview Mall's Boscov's into a shopping bag around 12:30 p.m. Nov. 18.
When an employee confronted him, according to court documents, he fled the store, leaving the bag behind.
A check of the bag's contents, in addition to the Boscov's merchandise, allegedly turned up clothing items with security sensor tags still attached.
Police believe Barnes had taken those items earlier that day from the JC Penney store at the mall.
District Judge Lewis Stoughton arraigned the defendant Nov. 29 on a felony charge of retail theft. His preliminary hearing in the case is scheduled Dec. 18 at Stoughton's office in Chicora.
Retail theft is graded as a felony for someone with two or more prior convictions for shoplifting, regardless of the value of the stolen merchandise, or for a first-time offender accused of taking items valued at more than $2,000.
On the same day of his arraignment, Barnes waived charges stemming from an unrelated shoplifting case in Butler Township.
Walmart surveillance video around 8:20 a.m. Nov. 20 allegedly captured him stealing two 55-inch television units valued at $698, according to township police.
He is charged in that case with felony retail theft and a misdemeanor count of receiving stolen property. He also was cited for driving with a suspended license.
