Assistant Principal Accused of Stealing 98 Items Worth $944 from Walmart Using Self-Checkout Stacking Method
Courtney Janell Shaw, a 47-year-old assistant principal at Free Home Elementary School in Cumming, Georgia, was arrested following a months-long investigation by the Cherokee Sheriff’s Office into repeated shoplifting incidents at a local Walmart.[1][2]
Authorities allege that between November 2 and December 31, Shaw employed the stacking method at self-checkout kiosks, where she placed multiple items together and scanned only one before exiting the store.[1][2][3] Over this period, she is accused of taking 98 items with a total value of approximately $944.[1][2]
Surveillance footage captured two vehicles at the scene: a 2018 Ford F-150 and a 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee. Investigators confirmed both were registered to Shaw at her residence through vehicle records and driver’s license databases.[1][2]
Shaw, who joined Free Home Elementary in 2024 after graduating from Wingate University and accumulating 24 years in education, was booked into Cherokee County Jail on a felony shoplifting charge.[1][2] She posted a $4,875 bond and was released the same day.[1][2]
The Cherokee County School District placed her on administrative leave immediately upon learning of the allegations, stating that maintaining the safety and security of students and staff is their top priority and that inappropriate conduct will not be tolerated.[2]
