Trial set for couple accused of theft

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A June trial has been set for a couple accused of a theft spree involving stolen purses and credit cards.

Jennifer Byrum, 36, of Grove City, Ohio, and Eugene Clark, 42, of Hamilton, Ohio, appeared in Delaware County Common Pleas Court where they each entered not guilty pleas to 18 counts of theft, 16 fifth-degree felonies, one fourth-degree felony and one misdemeanor and 16 counts of identity fraud, 12 fourth-degree felonies, two third-degree felonies and two fifth-degree felonies.

Delaware County Common Pleas Judge David Gormley accepted their not guilty pleas and scheduled the pair to stand trial on June 6. The trial is estimated to last two days.

Additionally, both individuals were set for a pretrial on May 15. Byrum’s pretrial hearing is scheduled for 10:15 a.m. and Clark’s is set for 2:15 p.m.

Prosecutors reported charges stem from a June 17, 2016, call to law enforcement that a purse had been stolen in the parking lot of the Genoa Township Kroger store.

“A customer reported her purse had been snatched from her cart as she unloaded groceries into her vehicle,” said Delaware County Prosecutor Carol O’Brien when the couple was indicted on Feb. 3. “Her credit cards were used a short time later.”

Video surveillance showed a maroon Chevy S10 leaving the scene. The driver and passenger were later caught on camera purchasing gift cards with the stolen credit cards.

An investigation revealed the boyfriend/girlfriend duo were suspects in several similar crimes at various other retailers.

According to the Ohio Revised Code, the couple could be sentenced to between one to five years in prison for the third-degree felonies; between six to 18 months for the fourth-degree felonies and between six to 12 months for the fifth-degree felonies.

Jennifer Byrum
http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2017/03/web1_jennifer-byrum.jpgJennifer Byrum

Eugene Clark
http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2017/03/web1_eugene-clark.jpgEugene Clark

By Glenn Battishill

[email protected]

Glenn Battishill can be reached at 740-413-0903 or on Twitter @BattishillDG.

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