YOUNG TWP., Pa. (EYT) – A Homer City woman is accused of stealing multiple items from the Young Township Walmart while also driving under the influence of several controlled substances.
According to court documents, Punxsutawney-based State Police filed criminal charges against 54-year-old Merrie Lynn Stepanek, of Homer City, in Magisterial District Judge Jacqueline J. Mizerock’s office on Monday, March 20.
According to a criminal complaint, police were dispatched to Walmart on State Route 119 in Young Township, Jefferson County, regarding a retail theft around 8:17 p.m. on January 12.
Upon arrival, troopers met with the Asset Protection officer for Walmart who said while he was walking the store, he noticed a tenderloin steak sticking out of Merrie Stepanek’s purse, the complaint states.
When he noticed this, he began following Stepanek around the store. He told police that Stepanek only paid for two salads at the register, then proceeded to walk out of the store with the stolen items, the complaint indicates.
The employee approached her and noticed an additional tenderloin steak, a Belkin phone charger, and a black cell phone, the complaint notes.
The employee provided police with a receipt for the four stolen items Stepanek had in her possession, totaling $209.00, the complaint states.
Police interviewed Stepanek, who said that after she dropped off her boyfriend, she drove to Walmart to get some shopping done. Stepanek said when she entered Walmart, she went to the grocery area where she got two salads and two tenderloin steaks. After she got those items, she went to the electronic area of the store and began looking at cell phones and phone chargers, according to the complaint.
Stepanek told police that while she was looking at the items, she “got frustrated and ripped the boxes off the rack damaging the boxes on both items,” the complaint indicates.
Stepanek further stated that after leaving the electronic area of the store, she concealed the items in the shopping cart under her purse. She advised she thought about taking the cell phone and the phone charger before concealing them, the complaint notes.
Stepanek said she then made her way to the registers and only paid for the two (2) salads. She then proceeded to exit the store before being stopped by the employee, the complaint states.
According to the complaint, Stepanek said ever since she started taking her new medication (Clonazepam), she’s been making bad decisions, and she would never do something like this if she was not on the medication.
While interviewing Stepanek, a trooper noted Stepanek’s eyes appeared to be dilated in a well-illuminated room and her mouth was extremely dry, according to the complaint.
When asked when she last used her medication, Stepanek said that she took her Clonazepam approximately three hours ago on her way to Punxsutawney from Homer City. She said she took two five-milligram pills, which is more than her prescribed dose, the complaint notes.
Stepanek then performed a battery of Field Sobriety Tests, which she agreed to, the complaint states.
On February 21, NMS Labs concluded the following positive findings in Stepanek’s blood:
– Caffeine – presumptive positive
– Clonazepam – 6.0 ng/ml
– 7-Amino Clonazepam – 33 ng/ml
– Bupropion – 14 ng/ml
– Hydroxybupropion – 1000 ng/ml
– Citalopram/Escitalopram – 100 ng/ml
– Diphenhydramine – 660 ng/ml
Stepanek faces the following charges:
- Driving Under Influence of Alcohol/Controlled Sub, Misdemeanor
- Retail Theft – Take Merchandise, Misdemeanor 1
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, April 26, at 9:30 a.m. with Judge Mizerock presiding.
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