Detroit Lakes Man Charged in $805 Walmart Theft

Detroit Lakes (trfnews.i234.me) — Anthony Britton Nelson faces a gross misdemeanor theft charge in Becker County District Court.

Prosecutors allege Nelson took $805.01 in merchandise from Walmart without paying for all items.

The charge covers alleged incidents between April 9 and May 23, 2026.

A criminal complaint says the case involves 14 separate transactions at the Detroit Lakes Walmart.

Nelson is charged with theft by taking movable property without the owner’s consent.

The complaint cites Minnesota Statute 609.52.

The charge carries up to 364 days in jail, a $3,000 fine, or both.

Walmart Reports Multiple Transactions

The case began after Walmart reported several suspected theft incidents involving the same person.

According to the complaint, Walmart gave investigators reports, transaction records, and store surveillance video.

The company’s internal review identified 14 transactions during the six-week period.

Investigators identified Anthony Britton Nelson as the person shown in the footage, according to the complaint.

Prosecutors say Nelson selected merchandise and used self-checkout registers during each visit.

The complaint alleges Nelson scanned some products while placing other merchandise into bags without scanning it.

He then allegedly paid for the scanned merchandise before leaving the store.

Prosecutors say he did not attempt to pay for the additional items.

The total value of the allegedly unpaid merchandise was $805.01, according to the complaint.

The State of Minnesota filed one gross misdemeanor theft count against Nelson.

The complaint alleges the property value was more than $500 but not more than $1,000.

That value range is listed in the charging document for the gross misdemeanor offense.

The case is filed in Becker County District Court within Minnesota’s Seventh Judicial District.

The court file number is 03-CR-26-1412.

Minnesota’s theft law is available through the Office of the Revisor of Statutes.

Public court records are available through Minnesota Court Records Online.

The complaint contains allegations and a statement of probable cause.

It does not establish that Nelson committed the charged offense.

Nelson is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.

The case will continue through the Becker County court system.

I’m Adrian Cole reporting for TRF News.