Michigan men sentenced for stealing over $3,500 in Apple Watches from Walmart in Fond du Lac | WTAQ News Talk | 97.5 FM · 1360 AM

FOND DU LAC, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — Two Michigan men convicted of stealing thousands of dollars worth of Apple Watches from a Fond du Lac Walmart were sentenced to prison Wednesday.

Ricky Bell and Jaylon Autry pleaded not guilty in April to robbery with force and retail theft in the Oct. 15 heist.

Online court documents show that Bell was sentenced to four years in prison and four years of extended supervision. Autry was sentenced to three and a half years in prison and four years of extended supervision.

The third suspect charged in the case, Antonio Butler, has a plea/sentencing hearing scheduled for July 16.

According to the criminal complaint, police were called to the Walmart located at 377 N. Rolling Meadows Drive in Fond du Lac around 7:45 p.m. for a report of a theft.

Autry, Bell and Butler entered the store and walked to the electronics section. One of the men asked an employee to open the locked case behind the front counter to see an iPad.

BELL and AUTRY then rummage through the unlocked case and take the Apple Watches. AUTRY is seen pulling out a bag he was carrying and opening it for BELL to place merchandise inside. VICTIM 1 attempted to close the case to prevent the three men from taking items. As VICTIM 1 attempted to close the case, BUTLER came from behind and grabbed VICTIM 1 by the neck with both arms. BUTLER forced VICTIM 1 down and held VICTIM 1 down while AUTRY and BELL continued to take the Apple Watches. VICTIM 1 attempted to escape from BUTLER but was unable to free herself. VICTIM 1 eventually broke free from BUTLER’s grip and pushed the case door shut. “As VICTIM 1 pushed the door shut, BUTLER grabbed several Apple Watches before the door was closed,” the complaint states.

The three men left the store with “at least ten” stolen Apple Watches worth $3,590, according to the complaint.

Investigators reviewed surveillance video and Walmart sent an alert to other Walmart stores in the state.

The suspects were spotted at a Walmart in Watertown but fled. Police later received a call that the Whitewater Police Department had pulled over the vehicle in the parking lot of their town's Walmart.

Fond du Lac police responded to the Whitewater Walmart and arrested the three suspects. All of the stolen Apple Watches were recovered.

All three suspects are convicted felons with extensive criminal histories in Michigan, Indiana, Oklahoma and Wisconsin.