home

‹ previous page  1  2  3  4  5   next page ›

The longer Primadonna stayed in the town, the more complaints Police Captain Dwaine Moore says he received regarding her crew. While it was an open story that Pascal and Monique needed money, it bothered many people, including some merchants, how they went about their fund-raising.

Monique, reports Police Captain Moore, loitered outside their premises and asked customers for money.

On May 29, Moore was contacted by the Town and Country grocery, where an employee reported they had witnessed Monique shoplifting.

Captain Moore says that Monique appeared in the store that morning, as she often had before, and made her purchase – a loaf of Sunbeam Queen thin sliced bread. When Moore approached her, he also found in her possession a jar of Nutella and a can of coffee, neither of which had been paid for.

The shoplifted items – a can of coffee and a jar of Nutella. Together, the items were valued at less than ten dollars. The theft puzzles Moore. Though she claims she was hungry, he notes that area churches have provided Monique and Pascal with food for months. He says that some churches have cut back on their offerings because they felt Monique and Pascal were taking advantage of their largesse. (Dwaine Moore photo)

Monique was charged with shoplifting. Specifically, NC General Statute 14-72 1(a) which concerns “possessing goods represented as stolen.” The police report indicates she, “Without authority did conceal 1 jar of Nutella spread and one can of coffee the merchandise of the Town and Country grocery store, while still upon premises.”

On June 14, Monique appeared in municipal court in Bayboro.

Monique speaks French and some English. Assistant District Attorney Laura Bell, assisted by online translation software, explained the charges. Monique indicated she understood and pleaded guilty to shoplifting. She says she took the items because she was hungry and had no money.

Moore says he and Bell took Monique’s case in to consideration. She had no prior convictions and her overseas records were unavailable. Moore explains that, in the end, “the charge was dismissed on the basis of what the acting agent negotiated with the Town and Country Grocery store and the assistant D.A.”

Specifically, the Town and Country Grocery would drop the charges and Monique would be banned from the property.

‹ previous page  1  2  3  4  5   next page ›

Posted Wednesday July 24, 2013 by Bernie Harberts

email this story | back to top