AUBURN — A Northern Iowa woman who swiped bags of empty beer cans from a local bar and cashed them in at a redemption center wound up owing a whopping $710.71 — far more than the cans were worth.
The Fayette County Sheriff’s Office said deputies took a report on February 13, 2026, concerning several bags of beer cans stolen from Hootie’s Bar in Auburn.
Investigators determined the cans had been hauled to a redemption center in Calmar and exchanged for cash.
Deputies identified the alleged can bandit as 45-year-old Flora Mae Epley of Oelwein. She was arrested and charged with fifth-degree theft and driving while her license was suspended.
Epley (pictured at top) was transported to the Fayette County Jail and initially held pending an appearance before a judge.
Court records show Epley later entered a negotiated and voluntary guilty plea to fifth-degree theft, a simple misdemeanor, on April 8.
The courtroom consequences proved far more expensive than whatever she collected at the redemption center.
Epley was assessed a $105 fine, a $15.75 surcharge, $504.96 in court costs and $85 in restitution, bringing the total bill to $710.71.
As of May 31, court records showed the entire amount remained unpaid. The case was sent to county attorney collections after a notice of past-due fines and costs was issued.
The theft case was filed in Fayette County District Court as SRCR075649.