A Jonesboro woman has been sentenced to probation after pleading guilty to robbery and theft charges stemming from an incident earlier this year.
Tasia Tyler, 33, entered guilty pleas on Aug. 14 to robbery and theft by receiving property valued over $5,000. Second Circuit Court Judge Randy Philhours sentenced her to five years of probation on each charge, according to court records.
Additional charges of second-degree assault, obstructing governmental operations, and theft of property valued under $1,000 were dismissed as part of the plea deal.
The charges date back to a Feb. 17 incident at a local retail store. According to an affidavit, a store employee confronted Tyler as she attempted to leave without paying for approximately $120 worth of merchandise. When the employee told Tyler she would notify the police unless the items were returned, Tyler allegedly stomped on the worker’s toes, pushed past her, and fled the store.
The employee followed Tyler outside and took photos of her and the vehicle she used to drive away. Investigators later determined that the car, valued at approximately $9,800, had been reported stolen.
On Feb. 20, Jonesboro police identified Tyler while she was driving the stolen vehicle. Authorities said she initially refused to provide her full name and was later found to have an active warrant issued by the Arkansas Board of Parole.
The retail worker later identified Tyler in a photo lineup as the individual who had assaulted her and stolen the merchandise. Tyler’s probation will be monitored under the conditions set forth by the court.