Couple sentenced for retail theft in wearing 19 unpaid shirts

WILKES-BARRE — A couple from Trenton, N.J., accused of stealing belts and clothing by wearing 19 unpaid shirts from Kohl’s Department Store, was sentenced to probation.

Luzerne County Court of Common Pleas Judge David W. Lupas sentenced Luis Daniel Escalante, 48, and Natali Herrera-Cardona, 41, to two years’ probation on separate felony retail theft offenses. Escalante and Herrera-Cardona pled guilty to the charges prior to being sentenced.

Wilkes-Barre Township police in court records say Escalante and Herrera-Cardona entered Kohl’s and selected 19 Tommy Hilfiger shirts and 21 belts on May 19.

Escalante entered a fitting room with 19 shirts, removed the security tags and put them on himself before walking out of the store without paying, court records say.

While Escalante was in the fitting room putting 19 shirts on himself, court records say Herrera-Cardona was on her way out of the store with a tote bag concealing 21 belts.

Escalante and Herrera-Cardona remained incarcerated at the Pike County Prison on federal detainers.

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