Accused Walmart thief skips arraignment

Elthia Potts, a former Havre Walmart employee who is accused of stealing $4,441.96 from the major retailer, did not show up Thursday for her arraignment in District Court. An arrest warrant that was issued Feb. 9 has not been returned either.

According to charging documents, a loss prevention worker from Walmart called the Hill County Sheriff's Office Jan. 29 to report she had Potts in custody for suspicion of stealing money.

The loss prevention worker said Potts was a checkout clerk whose till had been coming up short for half a month. She said she saw Potts take credit or debit cards from people she knew and run the cards, but that the transactions never went through. Afterward, the loss prevention worker continued, Potts gave customers change back anyway.

The total amount taken was $4,441.96, the documents quote the loss prevention worker as saying.

Afterward, a loss prevention officer from Great Falls interviewed Potts. The county attorney file says at this time Potts “admitted to the crime.” It further says that Potts gave a written statement admitting to “helping a few people out” and taking $500 in cash. But Potts also said she did not understand how the amount added up to $4,441.96.

After being taken to the Hill County Sheriff's Office, documents say, Potts was released, “as she had some small children and there was no room for females at the Hill County Detention Center.”

One of the deputies returned to Walmart, where the initial loss prevention worker provided a disc with video coverage of the days Potts was allegedly videotaped taking money from her till: Jan. 13, 14, 15, 17,18, 22, 25 and 28.

The document reiterated that Potts admitted to taking money — first she said it was $20, then $150 — but said she “did not know how it could be that much.”

The document says Potts was fired from Walmart that day.

Potts is charged with theft by embezzlement, common scheme, a felony.