December 21, 2023
DA Mike Schmidt announced today that the newly established Organized Retail Theft Task Force has presented multiple cases to grand juries over the last several months, resulting in the indictments of four high-profile suspects, as follows.
Defendant: Jerry Lamont Spencer, 30*
Jerry Spencer has been indicted on multiple charges that span 16 retail theft incidents totaling more than $12,000 in stolen goods from retailers such as Nike, Target, and Old Navy. Multiple indictments have yielded the following charges:
- Eight counts of Theft in the First Degree
- Theft in the Second Degree
- Robbery in the Third Degree
- Resisting Arrest
- Escape in the Second Degree
Defendant: Nolan Arthur Harris, 34*
Nolan Harris was indicted on November 21 for six incidents of retail theft at an outdoor specialty retailer, totaling over $7,500 in stolen goods:
- Three counts of Theft in the First Degree
Defendant: Tanner Brian Machon, 38*
Tanner Machon was indicted on October 3 for one incident of retail theft totaling more than $18,000 in stolen goods:
- Two counts of Burglary in the First Degree
- One count of Aggravated Theft in the First Degree
- One count of Possession of a Burglary Tool
- One count of Criminal Mischief in the First Degree
- One count of Burglary in the Second Degree
- One count of Theft in the First Degree
- One count of Organized Retail Theft
Defendant: Michael Glenn Morgan, 39*
Michael morgan was indicted on October 3 for seven retail theft incidents at Dick’s Sporting Goods totaling more than $10,000 in stolen goods:
- Six counts of Theft in the First Degree
- One count of Theft in the Second Degree
In addition to case investigation and prosecution, Task Force Lead Deputy DA Theresa Turner and DA Investigator Rebecca Lauderdale have been working closely with retailers on improved reporting and case preparation. They’ve also been working with law enforcement partners on investigative techniques that will yield more successful cases. As a result, more theft cases are being reported, and more cases are being referred to the DA’s Office with sufficient evidence and information in order for prosecutors to issue charges.
Looking ahead, the Organized Retail Theft Task Force anticipates a number of other high-profile indictments in the upcoming months. And SB 340, which passed last session, takes effect January 1, 2024. With this law change, the DA’s Office will be able to aggregate theft incidents to reflect the real harm being caused by chronic, professional thieves.
The DA’s Office would like to thank law enforcement partners for their assistance in retail theft cases, especially North Precinct Detective Arjay Dran for helping streamline the reporting process for retailers.
*A charging instrument is only an accusation of a crime. Spencer, Harris, Machon, and Morgan are innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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