Roachdale woman to plead guilty to theft

A Roachdale woman has pled guilty to a charge of Class D felony theft and will be sentenced on May 18.

Jonella L. Wallace, 51, will also face a habitual offender designation. Should she be deemed a habitual offender, any sentence she receives for the theft charge -- which is punishable by a maximum of three years -- could be significantly increased.

Wallace was originally arrested on Oct. 14, 2008, after being apprehended at the Greencastle Wal-Mart. Court records said she attempted to steal $577 worth of merchandise.

Wallace was booked into the Putnam County Jail, and on Oct. 16 her bond was set at $15,000 with 10 percent allowed. On Dec. 4, her bond was reduced to $5,000 with 10 percent allowed. She posted that bond and was released.

On Feb. 3, two charges of Class D felony theft were filed against Wallace in Montgomery County. Putnam County Deputy Prosecutor Justin Long filed a petition to revoke Wallace's probation on Feb. 12, and Wallace was arrested and booked back into jail on Feb. 17. She was ordered held without bond.

Wallace also has a charge of Class B misdemeanor public intoxication pending against her in Putnam County Circuit Court, which was transferred in from Putnam County Superior Court when the theft charge was filed in October. Wallace will be sentenced on that charge at the same time she is sentenced on the felony charge.

Wallace's criminal history includes convictions for misdemeanor operating while intoxicated, probation violations, felony illegal acquisition of a controlled substance and misdemeanor check deception, all in Montgomery County.