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By KEVIN OWEN KEARNEY
[email protected]
Thursday, July 29, 2004     Page: 1A

WILKES-BARRE TWP. – It was only a half gallon of ice cream, but it might
bring the scales of justice crashing down on Kimberli Weiland, police said.
   
Luzerne County’s former human resources director was arrested Wednesday on
a shoplifting charge, making it the third time she has been charged with
retail theft since May.
    Depending on the outcome of the previous cases, the latest charge could
become a felony and result in jail time, said township Detective Charles
Dyanick.
   
In the latest episode, Weiland, also known as Kimberli Aboyade, stole a
half gallon of “peanut brickle” ice cream from Turkey Hill Minit Market at
340 Wilkes-Barre Township Blvd., according to investigating officers Dyanick,
Sgt. Thomas Elick and Patrolman Scott Lamoreaux. According to arrest papers,
she told the store manager she put the ice cream in her purse to keep it from
melting.
   
While being led to her arraignment before District Justice Michael Dotzel,
Weiland faulted the Times Leader for her problems with the law.
   
“It’s because of your paper,” she told a reporter. Later, she said,
“Every time you put me in the paper something like this occurs.”
   
A story about Weiland appeared in Wednesday’s paper. She would not
elaborate or comment further. She told Dotzel she did not leave the store with
the ice cream.
   
She was released on $5,000 bail and a preliminary hearing was scheduled for
1 p.m. Tuesday before Dotzel.
   
According to arrest papers: Weiland entered the store at about 2:30 p.m.
Wednesday, walked to the freezer and placed the ice cream, valued at $4.19, in
her purse. She walked to the exit and was stopped at the door by an assistant
manager. She told him she had placed the ice cream in her purse to keep it
from melting.
   
Weiland also might face charges in a shoplifting incident at Sunshine
Market in Plains Township. Chief Ed Walsh said an officer was called to the
market June 21 to help identify a woman being held by store security. The
officer identified the woman as Weiland, Walsh said.
   
Walsh said police did not take her into custody, but he expects Sunshine
will file a private criminal complaint against her.
   
In May, Weiland, 33, of Plains Township, was charged with stealing from
Wal-Mart SuperCenter in Wilkes-Barre Township. She pleaded no contest to that
charge Tuesday and paid a fine and court costs.
   
In June, she was charged with shoplifting from Target, also in the
township, and has pleaded not guilty. If she is convicted on that charge, the
shoplifting charge filed Wednesday would become a felony, Dyanick said.
   
If convicted of the felony, Weiland could face a maximum sentence of 3 1/2
to seven years in jail, said criminal defense attorney Nanda Palissery, who
does not represent Weiland and is not involved in any of the cases.
   
Speaking generally, Palissery said he would advise clients in similar
situations to undergo mental evaluations. By doing so, they are showing the
judge they are doing their best to address any problems, he said.
   
Weiland, who has a law degree, was being paid a salary of $65,000 a year
before being fired by the county in June after a Times Leader investigation
revealed she had criminal charges against her in Ohio and Indiana.
   
The investigation also uncovered she had been disbarred by the South
Carolina State Supreme Court for altering her law school transcripts.
   
cutline:
   
TIMES LEADER STAFF PHOTO/S.JOHN WILKIN
   
Former Luzerne County Human Resources Director Kimberli Weiland, also known
as Kimberli Aboyade, is led to an arraignment Wednesday after being arrested
on a charge of retail theft. She is accused of shoplifting ice cream.