Fergus Falls Woman Charged in $3,844 Theft

FERGUS FALLS (trfnews.i234.me) — A Detroit Lakes woman faces three charges after an alleged theft at Walmart.

Angela Elizabeth Johnson, 39, is charged in Otter Tail County District Court.

The charges include third-degree burglary, felony theft, and misdemeanor trespassing.

Third-degree burglary and felony theft each carry a maximum five-year prison sentence. Each charge also carries a possible $10,000 fine.

The trespassing charge carries up to 90 days in jail. It also carries a possible $1,000 fine.

The charges remain allegations. Johnson is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.

158 Items Allegedly Unpaid

Police were called to the Fergus Falls Walmart at about 2:40 p.m. on April 14, 2026.

A store loss prevention worker reported a possible theft involving the Scan & Go system.

According to the complaint, Johnson scanned items while moving through the store.

However, the transaction later timed out before payment was completed.

Johnson then allegedly paid only for a Red Bull drink and a phone card.

The complaint says she bagged the remaining merchandise and passed the final point of sale.

Store staff stopped Johnson before she left the property.

Workers later counted 158 unpaid items. Their total value was listed as $3,844.21.

Johnson reportedly claimed she had paid nearly $3,000 for the merchandise.

She could not show a matching receipt or bank transaction at the store.

Police later arrested Johnson and took her to the Otter Tail County Detention Facility.

During booking, Johnson reportedly showed an image of a receipt totaling $2,972.10.

However, the receipt was dated July 20, 2014.

The complaint says the image came from an online Walmart receipt help page.

A second receipt image was also described as an online image.

Her banking application allegedly showed no recent purchase matching the merchandise.

The complaint says Johnson had been banned from all Walmart stores.

That notice was effective from June 26, 2025, through June 26, 2027.

Prosecutors argue her return supports the burglary and trespassing charges.

Readers can review Minnesota’s burglary law through the Minnesota Revisor of Statutes.

Minnesota theft laws are available under Minnesota Statute 609.52.

Court information is available through the Minnesota Judicial Branch.

I’m Adrian Cole reporting for TRF News.