Yesterday, Carmelita Barela, of San Francisco was arraigned and pleaded not guilty to multiple counts of retail theft from Bath & Body Works. District Attorney Brooke Jenkins revealed these charges include one felony count of organized retail theft, six felony grand theft counts, and nine misdemeanor shoplifting counts occurring between March 30 and October 29. The alleged thefts resulted in a loss of $15,079.90 to a Bath & Body Works store at San Francisco's Westfield Mall, per a tweet from the San Francisco District Attorney's Office.
1/ District Attorney @BrookeJenkinsSF announced today that Carmelita Barela of San Francisco has been charged in connection with a series of retail thefts from Bath & Body Works located in Westfield Mall. @SFPD took Ms. Barela into custody without incident on 11/6/23. pic.twitter.com/Rkw4pK4qTi
— SF DISTRICT ATTORNEY (@SFDAOffice) November 10, 2023
The District Attorney's Office is combating organized retail theft, committing to prosecute repeat offenders in line with the state-backed Organized Retail Theft Vertical Prosecution Grant Program.
Arrested peacefully on November 6, Ms. Barela will return to court on November 13 for the setting of a preliminary hearing date. The court granted the prosecution's request to hold her until trial without bail, citing public safety concerns. If Ms. Barela is found guilty, she could serve up to three years in state prison.
Notwithstanding the charges filed, investigations still are ongoing. The San Francisco Police Department is working alongside the District Attorney's Office to uncover any other involved individuals.
