NORWICH – A young woman, who – with her boyfriend – stole more than $1,000 worth of baby formula was sentenced to a split sentence of incarceration and probation.
20-year-old Casey B. Flanders and her boyfriend, 26-year-old Mark G. Grassi, both of Endicott, were arrested on July 18, 2014 by the Chenango County Sheriff’s Office following a traffic stop on state Highway 12 in the Town of Oxford.
Deputies said they discovered Flanders and Grassi were the suspects accused of stealing more than $1,000 worth of baby formula from Walmart in the Town of Norwich on July 15, 2014.
The couple was initially arraigned in the Town of Norwich Court after their arrest, then remanded to the Chenango County Correctional Facility in lieu of $2,500 cash bail or $5,000 property bond.
On July 22, 2014, Flanders was transferred to the Broome County Correctional Facility because she had a warrant out of the Town of Chenango in Broome County for petit larceny, said the Broome County Sheriff's Office. She was later released.
On July 25, 2014, Grassi was released after Flanders posted his $5,000 property bond, but he was arrested and remanded to the Broome County jail a month later on August 28, 2014. Grassi had committed more theft crimes in Johnson City and was charged with the class E felony of grand larceny in the fourth degree.
On Oct. 2, 2014, Flanders tried to visit Grassi at the Broome County jail using her sister's name and credentials, said authorities.
Authorities said Flanders was trying to conceal her identity because she was still wanted by Chenango County for charges related to the alleged baby formula theft.
When her identity was discovered, Flanders was remanded to the Broome County jail in lieu of $1,000 cash bail for the class A misdemeanor of criminal impersonation and also held on the outstanding warrants for the baby formula theft in Chenango County.
On Dec. 12, 2014, Flanders and Grassi were arraigned in Chenango County Court for the class E felony of grand larceny in the fourth degree for stealing the baby formula. Both were remanded back to the Broome County jail in lieu of $10,000 cash bail or $100,000 bond.
On April 6, 2015, Grassi pleaded guilty to the class E felony of grand larceny in the fourth degree and was sentenced as a second felony offender to an indeterminate sentence of two to four years in the New York State Department of Corrections.
On May 4, 2015, Flanders pleaded guilty to the class E felony of grand larceny in the fourth degree.
Flanders said she answered to her theft charges in Broome County and received probation before being transferred from the Broome County jail to the Chenango County jail, where she is currently incarcerated.
Flanders admitted that she and her boyfriend stole 75 cans of baby formula worth $1,197.75 from Walmart in Norwich.
“You are a very young woman, but you have been involved in criminal conduct in Chenango and Broome County,” said District Attorney Joseph A. McBride. “You are going to jail for what you did and will go on probation, and you will pay [restitution] back.”
“[Paying restitution] is an important part of you taking responsibility,” he added.
Judge Frank B. Revoir, Jr. said to Flanders, “It would appear you are smarter than this ... Probation will help you address some issues you have, and it also protects the community.”
“Thank you, I appreciate it,” said Flanders to Revoir. “I look forward to doing probation.”
Flanders was sentenced to a split sentence of six months of incarceration and five years of probation, less time spent incarcerated. She and Grassi will also be required to pay restitution to Walmart and other fees in the amount of $2,236.37 upon their release.