MASON CITY – After three fails at probation, a Mason City woman who brazenly pushed merchandise in a cart out of Walmart without paying for it will go to prison.
On Wednesday afternoon, May 21, 2014, two suspects were arrested for two theft incidents at Walmart in Mason City. At 3:11 PM, Walmart employees reported a male and a female pushed a cart of merchandise out to a truck and fled. Employees got the plate and law enforcement began looking for the truck. In the meantime, employees reported that the same two suspects returned to Walmart in the same vehicle and attempted a second theft by pushing out a cart of merchandise around 4:00 PM, again without paying for the items. Employees were able to retain the merchandise during the second attempt and the pair fled in the same vehicle.
A Cerro Gordo County Deputy located and stopped the truck with both subjects and merchandise from the first theft still inside. Both subjects were arrested. The value of the merchandise in the truck was worth approximately $421.00.
Joleen Billick, now age 41 of Mason City, was charged with 3rd Degree Theft. Her theft charge was enhanced to 3rd Degree Theft due to numerous prior theft convictions. The man she was with was charged with theft, but that case was later dismissed.
Billick was originally sentenced to a suspended two-year prison term, a $625.00 fine and two years of probation. She violated her probation in 2015 and was sent to jail for 30 days. She violated her probation again in 2015 and was sent to the Beje Clark halfway house for 180 days. In July, for a third time, she was found guilty of violating her probation and the original two-year prison term was handed down. Billick (whose last name is now Schaer) is now in the county jail awaiting a transport to prison.
TO PRISON
