San Diego
A former security guard at Robinson’s department store pleaded no contest Monday to grand theft in connection with stealing more than $200,000 worth of clothes from the store.
Eileen Ford, 32, of San Diego, entered her plea, which is tantamount to a guilty plea, before San Diego Municipal Judge William Mudd. She will be sentenced the last week of August.
Ford was arrested Dec. 10 at Robinson’s University Towne Centre store, where she worked at night. Authorities found more than 2,200 items in her home, car and garage.
Employed at Hanson Lane Elementary School in Ramona for three years as a special education teacher, she has been on a leave of absence since her arrest.
Complicating the case is a large number of items Ford bought legitimately from Robinson’s--how to determine what was and what wasn’t stolen--said Deputy Dist. Atty. Al Barret.
The prosecutor said Ford purchased more than $50,000 worth of clothes.
Ford could receive a maximum sentence of one year in jail. But Barret said, “We will not oppose a grant of probation and local time in custody.”
Ford remains free on her own recognizance.
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