Store clerk arrested for alleged theft of debit card
A former convenience store clerk was arrested Wednesday on felony and misdemeanor warrants stemming from allegations she stole a customer’s debit card and used it at the store where she worked in February.
Johnak Elizabeth Schouest, 26, who is reportedly homeless and listed as unemployed, was taken into custody around 5 p.m. on a felony charge of theft of property involving a debit card, punishable by up to six years in prison, and a misdemeanor count of fraudulent use of a debit card, punishable by up to one year in jail.
Schouest, who lists no prior criminal history, was later released on a $3,500 bond and is set to appear July 11 in Garland County District Court.
According to the probable cause affidavit, on Feb. 7, a local man reported the theft and illegal use of his debit card to Hot Springs police and stated he was at the Circle K store, 1024 Airport Road, on Feb. 5.
He said he made a purchase and left the store, leaving his debit card behind.
After realizing he lost it, he returned to the store and spoke to a female employee who told him the card was not there.
On Feb. 7, a charge came through on the man’s statement in the amount of $75.01 and it noted the location of the purchase was at the Circle K at 1024 Airport Road.
HSPD Detective Phillip De Foor spoke to the manager of the Circle K and she reviewed video of the transaction and recognized the actor as an employee, identified as Schouest. She provided De Foor with a copy of the video.
De Foor noted the video allegedly shows Schouest scanning a carton of cigarettes and paying $75.01 for them with the victim’s debit card. A warrant for her arrest was issued on April 11.