Checkout clerk faces felony theft charge

PONDERAY - A former Walmart employee is facing a felony theft charge for allegedly giving deep discounts to friends who came through her checkout line.

Jenny Lee Walton made her initial appearance in Bonner County Magistrate Court on Friday. Judge Justin Julian appointed a public defender to represent her, court records show.

A preliminary hearing to determine if Walton should be tried in 1st District Court is pending. She is free on her own recognizance, according to court documents.

Walton, 50, committed the thefts last August, a criminal complaint states. She is accused of giving several friends discounted or free merchandise through a variety of methods, according to a Ponderay Police report.

Walton would block the bar codes on merchandise with her hand while scanning the price or would ring up one item and put two items in the customer's bag, the report said. She was further accused of ringing up high-dollar items, voiding the item and putting it in their bag, and offering discounts of up to 50 percent, the police report said.

Walmart asset protection officials told police that as much as $800 in store merchandise was taken from the store through the checkstand scheme.

Some of the transactions were captured on store surveillance cameras and Walton confessed to the misconduct when she was confronted by Ponderay Police.

At least two people who Walton made transactions with also appear to be facing criminal charges, although their case files are sealed until they make initial court appearances.