Sign In
Events
Newsletters
Search

Close

Close Search

Cancel

SEARCH
MY LAW.COMNEW

Cooper v. State

The defendant used his girlfriend's Wal-Mart receipt for previously purchased merchandise to get a refund for a new vacuum cleaner that he placed in his cart after he entered the store.

X

Thank you for sharing!

Your article was successfully shared with the contacts you provided.

Following a jury trial, Willie Jesse Cooper was convicted of a single count of intent to defraud a retailer.1 He now appeals from the denial of his motion for a new trial, claiming that the evidence was insufficient to sustain his conviction because it failed to show that the Wal-Mart store he defrauded was a “retailer.” Discerning no error, we affirm. Viewed in the light most favorable to the verdict, Drammeh v. State ,2 the evidence shows that on August 24, 2007, Cooper entered a Wal-Mart store, obtained a shopping cart, and proceeded to the back of the store, where he placed a vacuum cleaner, a steam carpet cleaner, and a bottle of carpet cleaning solution in his cart. Cooper had in his possession a Wal-Mart receipt for these items, and the evidence at trial established that his girlfriend had, in fact, purchased identical items from this Wal-Mart store several days earlier.

Shortly after Cooper came into the store through the garden center, his girlfriend entered the Wal-Mart through the store’s main entrance. The girlfriend was carrying a small, previously-purchased item she planned to return. A Wal-Mart employee gave her a pink sticker to place on the item, thereby identifying it as an item being brought in for return. Cooper’s girlfriend met him on the vacuum cleaner aisle and gave him the pink sticker, which he placed on the vacuum cleaner in his cart.

Trending Stories

 
Reprints & Licensing
Mentioned in a Law.com story?

License our industry-leading legal content to extend your thought leadership and build your brand.

LEARN MORE

More From ALM

Premium Subscription
With this subscription you will receive unlimited access to high quality, online, on-demand premium content from well-respected faculty in the legal industry. This is perfect for attorneys licensed in multiple jurisdictions or for attorneys that have fulfilled their CLE requirement but need to access resourceful information for their practice areas.
View Now
Team Accounts
Our Team Account subscription service is for legal teams of four or more attorneys. Each attorney is granted unlimited access to high quality, on-demand premium content from well-respected faculty in the legal industry along with administrative access to easily manage CLE for the entire team.
View Now
Bundle Subscriptions
Gain access to some of the most knowledgeable and experienced attorneys with our 2 bundle options! Our Compliance bundles are curated by CLE Counselors and include current legal topics and challenges within the industry. Our second option allows you to build your bundle and strategically select the content that pertains to your needs. Both options are priced the same.
View Now
Go to CLE Center
GlobeSt. Women of Influence (WOI) 2024
July 22, 2024 - July 24, 2024
Lake Tahoe, CA

GlobeSt. Women of Influence Conference celebrates the women who drive the commercial real estate industry forward.


Learn More
New York Legal Awards 2024
September 05, 2024
New York, NY

The New York Law Journal honors attorneys and judges who have made a remarkable difference in the legal profession in New York.


Learn More
African Legal Awards 2024
September 06, 2024
Johannesburg

The African Legal Awards recognise exceptional achievement within Africa s legal community during a period of rapid change.


Learn More
Go to Events Go to Webcasts
(EXCLUSIVE FULLY REMOTE) INSURANCE COVERAGE ASSOCIATE OR COUNSEL WANTED FOR MULTI-STATE BOUTIQUE LAW FIRM (Florida)

Our client, a multi-state full-service boutique, is seeking to add an insurance coverage associate or counsel to work closely with one of th...


Apply Now ›
(EXCLUSIVE) IN-HOUSE GENERALIST ATTORNEY WANTED FOR PRIVATELY OWNED CONSTRUCTION SERVICES FIRM (Atlanta, GA)

Our client, an Atlanta-based and family-owned commercial construction services firm, has engaged us to identify an in-house attorney for the...


Apply Now ›
Agency Attorney

The Office of the Special Commissioner of Investigation for the New York City School District ( SCI ) has broad authority to investigate wro...


Apply Now ›
Go to Lawjobs
Lawyers of Distinction
06/27/2024
The American Lawyer

Professional Announcement


View Announcement ›
SMGQ Law
06/21/2024
Daily Business Review

Full Page Announcement


View Announcement ›
Blume Forte Fried Zerres & Molinari
06/14/2024
New Jersey Law Journal

Professional Announcement


View Announcement ›
Go to Professional Announcements