At Cherry Hill Mall in Cherry Hill NJ, it was a busy summer day
The Cherry Hill Mall buzzed with the frenetic energy of a summer Saturday. Teenagers flocked around the fountain, their laughter echoing off the polished floors. Families strolled, laden with shopping bags, while the aroma of pretzels and popcorn wafted from the food court. The sun streamed through the skylights, casting a warm glow on the shoppers below.
Inside JCPenney, a 10 year old Latina girl wearing a black and white striped t-shirt and blue skirt with curls in her hair is looking at overalls in the kids section, she then grabs 3 pairs of blue overalls and stuffs it in a black duffle bag she brought in to shoplift
The bright fluorescent lights of the JCPenney kids’ section reflected off the polished floor. Ten-year-old Sofia, with her bouncy curls and black and white striped t-shirt, stood before a rack of denim overalls. She carefully examined a pair, her brow furrowed in concentration. After a moment, she grabbed three pairs of blue overalls and quickly stuffed them into a large, black duffle bag she’d brought with her. Her small hands worked quickly and nervously.
Then she goes where the t-shirts are, she then takes a red Dora t-shirt off the rack and puts it in her bag, she then grabs some plain color t-shirts off the rack in yellow, pink, blue and orange and puts it in her bag
Sofia moved quickly toward the t-shirt section, her heart pounding in her chest. She spotted a bright red Dora the Explorer t-shirt and, without hesitation, snatched it off the rack and shoved it into the duffle bag. Then, she grabbed a handful of plain colored t-shirts – yellow, pink, blue, and orange – and stuffed those in as well, the bag now bulging with stolen merchandise.
She then meets up with her 30 year cousin who was wearing a white laced flower dress she stole from a news anchor with WABC’s home in Maplewood NJ
Sofia hurried through the aisles, her heavy bag bumping against her leg. She spotted her cousin, a woman in her early thirties, near the exit. The cousin was wearing a delicate white dress with floral lace, its origin a secret known only to her – a news anchor’s home in Maplewood, NJ.
Her cousin then goes over to where the shoes are and steals red boots for her little cousin and puts it in their bag
The cousin nodded to Sofia, a silent acknowledgment passing between them. With a practiced air of nonchalance, she strolled over to the shoe section. Her eyes scanned the displays until she found a pair of bright red boots, perfectly sized for Sofia. She quickly grabbed them and discreetly stuffed them into the already overflowing black duffle bag.
The girls are about to head out of the store when a checker sees them leaving, he asks them what is in their bag but they soon start running to the 30 year old’s Pontiac Grand Prix
As Sofia and her cousin approached the exit, a checker, his eyes sharp and observant, noticed the overflowing black duffle bag. “Excuse me,” he called out, his voice firm but polite. “What’s in the bag?”
Panic flashed across Sofia’s face. Without a word, she and her cousin took off running, the heavy bag bouncing between them. They burst through the doors and sprinted across the parking lot towards a faded blue Pontiac Grand Prix.
The Pontiac drives off but the checker quickly see the plate’s # to report it to security, once they review the cameras, they call 911
The Pontiac Grand Prix screeched out of the parking lot, leaving a trail of exhaust fumes. The checker, still standing at the entrance, quickly jotted down the license plate number. He rushed inside to report the theft to security. After a few tense minutes of reviewing the security camera footage, the mall security team called 911, relaying the license plate number and a description of the vehicle and suspects to the police.
NJ State Police ID’s the 30 year and heads over to 15 Linwood Ave in Maple Shade NJ where the girl’s mother lived, police break in the home and find the girl, her cousin, her mother, and uncle in the home and arrest all off them, they are taken into a van that soon takes them to jail, the girl is taken to the Camden County Youth Detention Center meanwhile
Within hours, the New Jersey State Police had identified the 30-year-old cousin. They traced her address to 15 Linwood Ave in Maple Shade, NJ, the residence of the girl’s mother. Arriving at the house, officers breached the door and entered the home. Inside, they found the cousin, Sofia, her mother, and her uncle. All four were arrested.
A police van arrived to transport the adults to jail. Sofia, due to her age, was separated from her family and taken to the Camden County Youth Detention Center.
At the Gloucester County Correctional Facility in Woodbury NJ, the 30 year is changed into a orange jumpsuit, they soon learned that the stole dress belonged to 54 year old Michelle Charlesworth of Maplewood, the mother was charged with harboring a fugitive, and the uncle was also charged with harboring a fugitive, cops learn the family had crossed the border illegally a month before
At the Gloucester County Correctional Facility in Woodbury, NJ, the 30-year-old cousin was processed and changed into an orange jumpsuit. During questioning, police confirmed that the stolen white lace dress belonged to 54-year-old Michelle Charlesworth, a news anchor from WABC in Maplewood. Sofia’s mother and uncle were charged with harboring a fugitive. Further investigation revealed that the entire family had illegally crossed the border into the United States just a month prior.
A visitor soon arrived at the jail, it was Michelle herself, she came to pick up her dress and then head home
Later that day, Michelle Charlesworth, the 54-year-old WABC news anchor, arrived at the Gloucester County Correctional Facility. She was there to retrieve her stolen white lace dress. After completing the necessary paperwork and confirming its authenticity, she carefully took possession of the dress, a sense of relief washing over her. With the dress safely in hand, she prepared to return home to Maplewood, eager to put the unsettling incident behind her.
Meanwhile back at the Juvie, Sofia is changed into a orange jumpsuit and taken to her cell
Back at the Camden County Youth Detention Center, Sofia, her eyes wide with fear and confusion, was changed into an orange jumpsuit. A guard led her down a sterile hallway to a small, sparsely furnished cell. The heavy metal door clanged shut behind her, the sound echoing in the cold, unfamiliar space.
2 weeks later, ICE officers pick up the mother, uncle and cousin, and then the girl and take them to Mexico where they would stand trial for escaping in the US
Two weeks later, ICE officers arrived to take custody of Sofia’s mother, uncle, and cousin. They were transferred to federal custody and prepared for deportation. Sofia, still in the custody of the Camden County Youth Detention Center, was also processed for removal. The family was then flown to Mexico, where they would face legal proceedings related to their illegal entry into the United States and any charges stemming from the shoplifting incident. The hope of a new life in America had vanished, replaced by the harsh reality of their actions and their consequences.
In Mexico 3 months later, Michelle takes the stand during the family’s pre-trial in a courtroom in Mexico City, she wear her dress her sleeveless white flower laced dress on the stand, she says while she was working on a Monday afternoon, the 30 year old broke in her home and stole her dress
Three months later in Mexico City, a somber courtroom scene unfolded. Michelle Charlesworth, wearing her now-famous sleeveless white flower-laced dress, took the stand during the family’s pre-trial hearing. With a steady voice, she recounted the events of that Monday afternoon, testifying that the 30-year-old cousin had broken into her Maplewood home and stolen her dress. The dress, a symbol of the theft and the family’s ill-fated journey, served as a stark reminder of the consequences of their actions.
The judge the decides to sentence the 30 year old to life behind bars for property theft in the US and escaping Mexico, the girl, mother and uncle are sentenced to 20 years for escaping Mexico, the judge then decides to order the stole clothes returned to JCPenney
The judge, a stern figure in his black robes, listened intently to the testimonies. He weighed the evidence before him, his expression unreadable. (Use the provided image for the judge). Finally, he delivered his verdict. The 30-year-old cousin was sentenced to life in prison for property theft in the United States and escaping from Mexico. Sofia’s mother, uncle, and Sofia herself were each sentenced to 20 years for escaping Mexico. The judge then ordered the stolen clothing to be returned to JCPenney.
Sofia is taken to Campo Miltara 1 to serve her sentence
Sofia, her childhood irrevocably stolen, was taken to Campo Militar 1, a juvenile detention facility in Mexico, to begin her 20-year sentence.
She is soon put in a cell that had a tv that aired Judge Mills Lane all day, after she is changed in to a white t-shirt and dark green and orange camo pants, she soon cries in her cell
Inside the stark cell, Sofia, now clad in a plain white t-shirt and dark green and orange camouflage pants, sat alone. A television mounted high on the wall flickered with the endless reruns of Judge Mills Lane. Overwhelmed by the enormity of her situation, the loss of her freedom, and the bleakness of her future, she finally broke down, tears streaming down her face in the cold, unforgiving silence of her prison cell.
Writers note: this story was based on a recent incident at the Gurnee Mills Mall in Gurnee Mills IL where 30 year-old Beatriz Villegas and a 10-year-old girl, both from Chicago IL were seen stealing merchandise and leaving Zumiez without paying. Officers found that the girl was carrying a Home Goods bag containing stolen items from several different stores. Villegas was also found carrying a bag filled with stolen merchandise, The 10-year-old girl was released to a guardian and the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services was notified of the crimes, Villegas, meanwhile, has been charged with retail theft and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. She was cited and released the same day.
Police said the 10-year-old girl admitted to taking the items because her mother told her to do so. Investigators later determined the girl’s mother was also involved in the thefts.
This story was written to remind all of you to never steal!!
Thank you for sharing the inspiration behind the story and emphasizing the important message about not stealing! The story, though fictionalized, serves as a powerful reminder of the serious consequences that can arise from such actions, impacting not only the individuals involved but also their families.
