District Attorney Billy Joe Harrington announced a guilty plea and sentencing in a shoplifting case involving two separate retail theft investigations in Natchitoches Parish.
Ashley N. White, 40, of Natchitoches, pleaded guilty to two counts of theft, third or subsequent offense, in Division A of the Tenth Judicial District Court.
The charges were related to separate shoplifting incidents investigated by the Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Office and the Natchitoches Police Department.
The investigations revealed that White and accomplices entered retail establishments and stole merchandise valued at less than $1,000. Although the charges would ordinarily result in misdemeanor theft, Lt. Jarred Kilpatrick and Lt. John Greely identified White’s prior theft convictions in Louisiana and Texas, which allowed the District Attorney’s Office to prosecute the offenses as felonies.
White was sentenced to two years at hard labor with the Louisiana Department of Corrections.
Harrington noted the serious nature of repeat retail theft, particularly as local merchants prepare for the upcoming holiday shopping season.
“We have seen an increase in retail theft throughout our region, including here in Natchitoches Parish. Our local merchants are taking proactive steps to protect their businesses, and we are working closely with our law enforcement partners to address these crimes. As we enter the holiday shopping season, we will continue taking a strong approach to investigating and prosecuting repeat shoplifting offenses,” District Attorney Harrington said.
District Judge Desiree Dyess presided over the case. The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Steven Oxenhandler.