By Lee Ann Sides Garrett
For the Salisbury Post
For the first time, Rowan County magistrates have charged two people under a new felony shoplifting law enacted in 2007. According to Magistrate Fred Moore, the new law provides for specific shoplifting offenses and is a felony.
“This is the first time we have used this law to charge anyone,” Moore said.
Michelle Crystal Hall, 26, and J.T. Hall, 33, both of South Oakhurst Drive in Salisbury, were charged with larceny from a merchant.
The new law considers shoplifting a class H felony if one or more specific circumstances are met:
– $200 or more is removed from the store through an exit door marked with a notice or sign about the felony offense.
– By removing, destroying or deactivating a component of an anti-shoplifting or inventory control device to keep the device from activating upon leaving the store.
– By affixing a fake product code created to obtain merchandise at a lower price.
– The theft of more than $100 of infant formula or diapers.
Michelle and J.T. Hall were arrested for removing or destroying an anti-shoplifting device from a watch and three SD memory cards for cameras.
“The law has specific requirements that have to be met before someone can be charged,” Moore said. “This is the first time those have been met.”
Michelle and J.T. Hall were placed in the Rowan County jail under $1,000 bond apiece and have first appearances in court today.