Woman who threatened to burn down Walmart pleads guilty to resisting arrest, retail fraud.

Morgan Johnson, left, with attorney Cory Rickett.

Woman who threatened to burn down Walmart pleads guilty to resisting arrest, retail fraud.

#MasonCountyCrime

By Allison Scarbrough, Editor.

LUDINGTON – A 24-year-old homeless woman who threatened to burn down Walmart last November pleaded guilty in 51st Circuit Court Tuesday, Feb. 11, to charges of assaulting/resisting/obstructing police and retail fraud.

Morgan Faith Johnson was arrested by Mason County sheriff’s deputies, Nov. 3, after throwing merchandise around in the store, according to Mason County Sheriff Kim Cole.

Johnson dumped a can of motor oil down an aisle and threw her cell phone at the deputies as they approached her, Cole said.

She was initially charged with disturbing the peace, disorderly/obscene conduct and a second count of assaulting/resisting/obstructing police, which were dismissed in a plea agreement.

“I think I jerked a little bit,” Johnson said when questioned by Judge Susan K. Sniegowski about the resisting arrest charge. “You pulled away from (the police officer)?” The judge asked. “Yes,” she answered.

Johnson testified that she stole some clothing items and a pair of boots from Walmart. She told the judge that she took the clothes off the rack; removed the tags; and put the clothes on while in the store.

In exchange for her plea, she will be sentenced to 45 days up front of one-year discretionary jail term.

Sentencing guidelines in the case are 0-9 months, said Mason County Prosecutor Paul Spaniola.

Johnson will also be ordered to pay restitution in the case.

Sentencing is set for April 7 at 1:45 p.m.

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