A Sheridan couple is facing felony theft charges after police say they hauled away more than $1,400 worth of donations from outside a church that had been collected for a fundraiser.
The pair later told the Sheridan Police Department that they believed the items had been left outside for anyone to take.
Michael C. Forni, 27, and Amber Mae Walker, 32, were each charged Wednesday during initial appearances in Sheridan County Circuit Court.
According to an affidavit filed by the Sheridan PD, church staff discovered Saturday that more than a dozen items staged outside First United Methodist Church for an upcoming fundraising sale had disappeared overnight.
The haul was an eclectic mix of yard-sale treasures and oddities: a rototiller, propane tank, window air conditioner, camp cots and coolers, alongside retired traffic signals, rifle scopes, a handmade wooden wagon and even a jade plant.
Church staff told investigators they weren't exactly sure how many items in total were stolen.
Two Trips
Investigators reviewed surveillance video from the church and reportedly observed a black Toyota Tundra pull into the parking lot at about 4:01 a.m.
A man and woman got out of the truck and loaded several items before leaving, says the affidavit.
About 17 minutes later, the same truck returned, and the pair loaded more property before driving away a second time.
Church staff later provided police with a detailed list of the missing items that had been gathered for a fundraising sale organized by the church's Methodist Men's Group.
Pastor Jim Barth was unavailable for comment, but the church receptionist immediately recognized the case.
The ministry regularly hosts parking lot sales and Palm Sunday breakfasts to raise money for projects that support both the church and the broader Sheridan community.
Other items taken included several rifle scopes, a weed eater, Cabela's dry bags, and two retired traffic signals.
Facebook Tip
After obtaining still images from surveillance video, Sheridan police posted photographs on the department's Facebook page seeking help identifying the pair. It appears the photos have since been removed.
According to court records, an anonymous tip identified the suspects as Forni and Walker.
When officers arrived at the couple's home, they reportedly found a black Toyota Tundra matching the truck seen in the surveillance video parked in the driveway, the affidavit says.
Investigators also observed a window air conditioner in the bed of the truck that matched one reported missing from the church.
Police then contacted Forni and Walker, who both acknowledged taking the items, according to the affidavit.
Wrong Assumption
Court records indicate both told investigators they believed the items had been left outside for people to take for free. The couple told officers they had been driving around and noticed the collection of property outside the church.
Forni reportedly said they assumed the items were being discarded and decided to "dumpster dive" through them.
Walker gave a similar account.
Police later recovered the property from them. The total value of the recovered items was estimated at about $1,455.
Under Wyoming law, theft of property valued at more than $1,000 is punishable by up to 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $10,000, or both.
Forni and Walker made their initial appearances Wednesday afternoon in Sheridan County Circuit Court.
Kolby Fedore can be reached at kolby@cowboystatedaily.com.
