Theresa L. Artz

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GALLIPOLIS — A Gallia County woman charged with felony theft on Monday for allegedly stealing goods from Walmart in Gallipolis escaped from the Gallia County Work Release Center on Monday evening.

Theresa Lee Artz, 37, Crown City, pleaded not guilty to a fifth-degree felony theft charge in the Common Pleas Court of Gallia County on Monday and was given a $5,000 own recognizance bond with an additional $1,500, 10 percent bond.

According to the original complaint filed against Artz in this case, she was observed by a loss prevention officer inside Walmart on November 17, 2012, for an extended period of time and had a shopping cart “overflowing” with clothing and other miscellaneous items. She was later observed leaving the store without paying for the items, according to the complaint.

Artz was arraigned in the Gallipolis Municipal Court and charged with theft. Her case was later bound over to the common pleas court where it was heard by a grand jury on December 13.

Following Monday’s arraignment hearing, bond was not posted for Artz’s release from the Gallia County Work Release Center and, according to Gallia County Sheriff Joe Browning, she later left the grounds of the work release center without permission on Monday evening.

A search for the defendant ensued, and she was arrested in West Virginia by the Point Pleasant Police Department on Tuesday morning, according to Browning.

Artz, who initially gave the West Virginia police officers a false name, was later identified by a Gallia County Sheriff’s Deputy.

She will later appear for a hearing in the Mason County Circuit Court where she will be given the opportunity to waive extradition and be brought back into Gallia County to face additional charges.

According to the arraignment entry, Artz is scheduled to appear in the common pleas court on April 16, 2013, for a jury trial in relation to her theft charge.