By: Unknown
From: The Knoxville News-Sentinel
By Andrew Eder, The Knoxville News-Sentinel, Tenn.
Apr. 11--A Jewelry Television employee was arrested at work Monday, accused of stealing nearly $30,000 worth of jewelry from the Knoxville-based home shopping network.
Wanda June Johnson, 49, of Alcoa, was charged with theft and released from jail Monday on $25,000 bond, said Martha Dooley, spokeswoman for the Knox County Sheriff's Office.
According to a report from the Sheriff's Office, a co-worker of Johnson's was seen on video in late February placing jewelry in a tub at the network's distribution center at Parkside Drive and Hayfield Road.
Johnson was seen on video March 2 taking the tub of jewelry, valued at $29,421.97, and putting it in her car, according to the report.
"(Johnson) did not have the authority of Jewelry TV to remove the jewelry from the building and she did not take the jewelry to her office at 10001 Kingston Pike (the network's headquarters)," the report states.
Johnson is scheduled to be arraigned on a charge of theft at 10 a.m. Monday in General Sessions Court. Johnson's phone number is unlisted, and she could not be reached for comment Tuesday.
Dooley said the co-worker was not arrested Monday, but the investigation is ongoing.
An affidavit filed in General Sessions Court lists Bob Bowers as a witness. When contacted Tuesday, Bowers identified himself as the loss prevention investigator for Jewelry Television before referring questions to the network's general counsel and vice chairman, Charles Wagner. Wagner did not return a phone call for comment Tuesday.
Kelly Fletcher, a spokeswoman for Jewelry Television, would not comment on the arrest, citing an ongoing investigation.
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