A Stone County woman has been arrested after allegedly stealing two phones and a phone card while working as a contractor in the Mountain View Wal-Mart.According to the probable cause affidavit, an employee from the store contacted authorities about 19-year-old Justice Brown-Earnest allegedly stealing two iPhone 13s and a phone activation card.
Investigators spoke with employees of Wal-Mart in Mountain View who provided video surveillance and a trespass order stating Brown-Earnest has been banned from all Wal-Mart owned properties.
The video shows on July 18, Brown-Earnest entering the store carrying a drink and Wal-Mart bag which she then proceeded to place under the register and began work.
Around 5 that evening, the video shows Brown-Earnest unlocking drawers where the cell phones are stored and pulling out two, then the drawer where the theft removal devices are located.
At 5:32, Brown-Earnest allegedly throws unknown items in the trash can next to the register then proceeds to take a phone card and activate it.
She then takes the receipts and card and pulls out the original Wal-Mart bag from under the counter where she places the items and hides it back under the counter.
At 5:53 the video shows Brown-Earnest covering a phone with a piece of paper and putting it in the bag she originally brought in without the box. A short time later she retrieves her original Wal-Mart bag, puts another phone and paper into the bag, ties it up and leaves the work area.
Contact was made with Brown-Earnest who stated she was on the phone the entire time with her manager because a male subject came into the store wanting to upgrade his phone.
The man was allegedly from out-of-state and wanted to get two phones but could not take them to where he was staying due to the lack of Wifi.
Brown-Earnest allegedly told the man she would bring him the phones after her shift was over.
July 25 authorities were contacted by a man who stated he filed a fraud claim with Verizon due to a payment being charged July 18. The victim stated while the transaction was ongoing, he was fishing with a friend. While reviewing footage from Wal-Mart, authorities witnessed Brown-Earnest sell a cellphone to a man using the victim’s identity, then ripping up the paperwork and identity tags from the cell phone.
A third phone was found in a cabinet unable to be sold due to the activation process being partially started.
The total amount on the stolen items equals $2,353.
Bond for Brown-Earnest was set at $10,000.
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