Ludington woman ordered to jail for shoplifting.

Kristina Haynes in 51st Circuit Court.

Ludington woman ordered to jail for shoplifting.

#MasonCountyCourtNews

By Allison Scarbrough. Editor.

LUDINGTON — A 37-year-old Ludington woman was ordered to serve six months up front of a one-year discretionary jail term for a conviction of first-degree retail fraud (shoplifting) in 51st Circuit Court Tuesday, Aug. 15

Kristina Mackenzie Haynes, of 608 5th St., pleaded guilty, July 11.

Haynes testified before Judge Susan K. Sniegowski that she stole groceries from the local Meijer store by using the self check-out lane without properly scanning the items. “I would slide over the u-scan without ringing it up,” she said.

Haynes stole groceries totaling $569.01 over 14 separate occasions from December of 2016 through May of 2017, said Mason County Prosecutor Paul Spaniola. She was arrested May 13 by the Mason County Sheriff’s Office.

Haynes’ sentence includes restitution to Meijer totaling $569.01, which she has already paid..

Haynes has a 2004 conviction of first-degree retail fraud, the prosecutor said.

“This isn’t just one offense,” Spaniola said. “Miss Haynes committed retail fraud a number of occasions by sliding items past u-scan check-out at Meijer and not ringing them up and not paying for them. Miss Hayes has an issue with retail fraud.”

“She has been in counseling the past six months,” said her attorney, Mark Otto. “She paid her restitution in full.”

“I am so sorry for what I did,” Haynes said as she wept. “I am so remorseful.”

Otto made a motion to delay his client’s sentencing for six to eight weeks as she is in the midst of her busy season at her job.

The judge denied the motion and moved into sentencing. “There is a pattern here of these types of financial type crimes,” Sniegowski said. However, she allowed Haynes to report to jail Sept. 5 and ordered that she be placed on an electronic tether in the meantime.

Haynes also received a probation term of 18 months, and the judge gave her credit for two days served in jail.

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