A Rowan County woman has been accused of stealing the wallet of an assistant district attorney while she was in Lincoln County court on a breaking-and-entering charge, authorities said.
The suspect, Jessica Jean Yeckley, 32, of Cleveland, returned the wallet and said she felt guilty about what she had done, investigators said. Nothing was missing from the returned wallet.
Beckley was in court Wednesday on a misdemeanor charge of breaking-and-entering a motor vehicle, the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office said.
Investigators said Assistant District Attorney Kay Killian reported she had removed her wallet from her purse and left it in her office while stepping out for about 30 minutes.
Deputies said he wallet was gone when Killian returned to her office.
Surveillance video pointed to Yeckley as a suspect and a detective contacted her. Authorities said Yeckley admitted she took the wallet but didn’t use the credit cards or the cash (over $100) inside.
Investigators said Yeckley told them she took the wallet, hoping to find money so she could pay her child’s insurance. But then she felt guilty and decided not to use the money, authorities said.
The wallet was returned to Killian, who reported nothing missing. Yeckley lmet with Lincoln County authorities later Wednesday and was charged with misdemeanor larceny and possession of stolen goods. She was released on bail.
