A West Richland woman is accused of pocketing another person's forgotten debit card and using it to gas up a motor home she was living in.
Rebecca Charlene Whitish, 50, pleaded innocent Wednesday in Benton County Superior Court to second-degree theft. Her trial is set for Jan. 19.
Prosecutors allege Whitish was shopping at a Safeway store Sept. 2 when a customer left behind her Gesa card on the checkout counter. Whitish was next in line and reportedly was seen on store security video picking up the card and placing it in her bra.
Two hours later, the stolen card was used three times at a convenience store to buy gasoline, court documents said. One purchase was for more than $100, which police believe is consistent with getting gas for a motor home.
Whitish was living in a motor home at the time.
West Richland police identified Whitish on the surveillance video because they had recently arrested her for using the card of a close friend to make more than 100 fraudulent transactions, according to police.
Similar stories:
Setting trial dates in alleged beating delayed
Setting trial dates in alleged beating delayed
Setting trial dates for a Pasco man accused of beating his girlfriend and holding her against her will was delayed once again, despite Larry Dean Buck's protests.
But Superior Court Judge Cameron Mitchell said trial dates will need to be set next week.
Rutt, Buck's attorney, asked to continue for one week to allow him to review the report from Eastern State Hospital. He said he is not contesting his client's competency to stand trial.
Pasco man pleads guilty to assault
Pasco man pleads guilty to assault
A Pasco man faces almost three years in prison after his guilty plea Tuesday to beating his girlfriend and holding her against her will.
Larry Dean Buck, 40, entered an Alford plea in Franklin County Superior Court to second-degree assault and unlawful imprisonment, both felonies.
The Alford plea means he denied committing the crime but believed prosecutors had enough evidence to convict him.
Pasco man gets 9 months in drive-by shooting
Pasco man gets 9 months in drive-by shooting
A Pasco man who participated in a May drive-by shooting was sentenced to nine months in jail.
Richard Ray Castillo pleaded guilty Tuesday in Franklin County Superior Court to one count of second-degree assault and one count of attempting to elude a police vehicle.
Castillo admitted to assisting in shooting at Miguel A. Paniagua's West Pearl Street apartment May 13. No one was hurt in that incident, but three children were inside sleeping at the time.
Man charged with attempted murder
Man charged with attempted murder
Attempted murder charges have been filed against a Pasco man accused of beating and holding his girlfriend against her will.
Larry Dean Buck, 40, was arrested in January and faced a Nov. 2 trial in Franklin County Superior Court for second-degree assault and unlawful imprisonment.
Over Buck's objections, defense attorney Matt Rutt, asked for the trial to be continued to Nov. 30.
Tattoo raises police suspicions
Tattoo raises police suspicions
A Richland man with a valid arrest warrant allegedly tried to give police a fake name, but couldn't hide his true identity because it is tattooed on his shoulder.
Blake Edward Hendon, 25, pleaded innocent to second-degree identity theft, a felony, and making false or misleading statements to a public servant, a gross misdemeanor.
Pasco police were notified at 1:19 p.m. Oct. 28 that an off-duty Richland officer was behind Hendon, who was driving a Pontiac Sunfire.
Print
Email Story
