Byron woman sentenced to 10 years in Houston County shoplifting case
40- year-old Amanda Levi Risk pleaded guilty July 15 in Houston County Superior Court.
WARNER ROBINS, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) — A Byron woman with multiple prior shoplifting convictions has been sentenced to 10 years in prison after pleading guilty to shoplifting, methamphetamine possession and identity fraud, according to the Houston County District Attorney’s Office.
40- year-old Amanda Levi Risk pleaded guilty July 15 in Houston County Superior Court to one count of theft by shoplifting, one count of possession of methamphetamine and one count of identity fraud.
Risk was sentenced to 20 years, with the first 10 years to be served in prison. Risk was also banished from Houston County for the duration of her sentence.
Prosecutors said Risk had seven prior convictions for theft by shoplifting at the time of sentencing, including both misdemeanor and felony offenses.
According to the district attorney’s office, Risk shoplifted numerous clothing items from the Academy Sports store on Watson Boulevard in Warner Robins on June 17. Loss prevention employees contacted the Warner Robins Police Department after identifying the theft.
Authorities said officers found Risk in possession of methamphetamine during a search following her arrest.
The district attorney’s office said Risk was also served with arrest warrants related to an earlier theft on June 4. Prosecutors said she took a purse from a customer’s shopping cart at Home Depot and later used the victim’s credit cards to make several unauthorized purchases at multiple locations that same day.
Senior Assistant District Attorney Mike Smith
“The Houston County District Attorney’s Office would like to thank the Warner Robins Police Department for its efforts in bringing this career criminal to justice. The Office would especially like to highlight the efforts of Officers Gregory Hall, Ephram Stringer, Kimberly Houck, and Matthew Brankley for their efforts in investigating these cases. Our local businesses and community members should feel free to operate in our community without having to worry about criminals terrorizing their stores or stealing their identities. The District Attorney’s Office remains committed to protecting the community from career thieves.”
District Attorney Eric Z. Ewards released the following statement:
“This case is a reminder that repeat offenders often leave a trail of victims that extends well beyond a single crime. Here, the defendant victimized local businesses through repeated shoplifting, preyed upon an unsuspecting citizen by stealing her purse and identity, and continued to possess illegal narcotics despite numerous prior encounters with the criminal justice system. Seven prior shoplifting convictions should have made it abundantly clear that this defendant had no intention of changing her behavior. At some point, the criminal justice system must shift its focus from rehabilitating petty thieves to protecting the law-abiding citizens and businesses who continue to bear the cost of a career criminal’s choices. I appreciate the work of the Warner Robins Police Department as well as the prosecution of this case by Senior Assistant District Attorney Mike Smith. Our office remains committed to holding repeat offenders accountable and ensuring that those who repeatedly victimize our businesses and our citizens face meaningful consequences. This sentence accomplishes exactly that.”
