Shoplifter who reportedly threatened workers with pellet gun fit to proceed
A local woman who allegedly threatened store employees with what turned out to be a pellet gun while attempting to shoplift last summer was found mentally fit to proceed with trial after a hearing Tuesday in Garland County Court.
Lila Alvarez Oseguera, 40, of Hot Springs, was arrested July 5, 2019, the day of the incident, and charged with aggravated robbery, punishable by up to life in prison, and a misdemeanor count of theft of property, punishable by up to one year in jail.
She was held on $10,000 bond and pleaded not guilty to the charges on Sept. 3, 2019. Garland County Public Defender Tim Beckham filed a motion for a mental evalua- tion, noting he believed there was a question about her fitness to proceed, which was granted by Judge Marcia Hearnsberger, staying further proceedings.
At an Act 3 hearing held Nov. 9, 2019, it was determined Oseguera was not fit to proceed and she was committed for further treatment. At a second hearing on April 21, 2020, it was determined she was still not fit to proceed so the case was continued again. On Aug. 20, Oseguera was re-
leased on a $5,000 bond.
On Tuesday, a third hearing was held and it was determined she was fit to proceed with trial. A hearing to determine the admissibility of any statements she made to Hot Springs police is set for Oct. 20 with a trial date yet to be set.
According to the probable cause affidavit, on July 5, 2019, shortly before 6 p.m., an employee at Atwood’s, 2004 Albert Pike, reported that a woman was seen attempting to steal multiple items from the store, including a mop, two buckets, a broom and dust pan, with an approximate value of $71.
She reportedly passed all points of sale and was attempting to exit the store when employees verbally confronted her in the foyer. She dropped all the merchandise and went to the parking lot where one male employee confronted her again.
At that point, the woman displayed a black handgun, pointing it at the employee while covering the tip of the gun with her hand. Then she finally threw the gun at the employee and left the parking lot in a gray Isuzu Trooper, but not before the employee got the license plate number. The weapon was found to be a plastic pellet gun with an orange tip.
Shortly after 8:30 p.m., officer Taylor Werst spotted the Trooper and made a traffic stop at Hick’s Circle and Albert Pike. The driver was identified as Oseguera and the Atwood’s employee was brought to the scene and reportedly identified her as the woman from the robbery.