The items were reportedly worth close to $1,000
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An assistant principal has been placed on leave after allegedly stealing close to $1,000 worth of merchandise from Walmart.
Courtney Shaw is accused of taking 98 items from a Walmart store over multiple visits between November and December 2025. She was booked into the Cherokee County jail in Georgia on January 26.
Shaw has been charged with one felony count of shoplifting. She was released later the same day after posting a $4,875 bond.
Shaw works as an assistant principal at Free Home Elementary School and was placed on leave following the allegations.
Investigators claim Shaw used what is known as a “stacking method” at self-checkout kiosks. This method involves placing multiple items together and scanning only one item before exiting the store.
The 98 items Shaw is believed to have taken were valued at a combined total of $943.97, according to Fox 5 Atlanta.
An assistant principal has been accused of stealing 98 items from Walmart
Kevin Carter/Getty Images
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The school district has confirmed that Shaw was placed on administrative leave while the situation is being reviewed.
"Immediately upon these allegations being reported, the employee was placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of internal and law enforcement investigations," the district said in a statement to Fox 5.
"Maintaining the safety and security of our students and staff is our top priority and inappropriate conduct will never be tolerated," it added.
According to the incident report, Shaw, who has worked in education for 24 years, was identified after a Walmart employee provided surveillance footage to police.
Investigators ran the license plates of two vehicles seen in the footage, a 2018 Ford F-150 and a 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee.
The vehicles were later located at Shaw’s property and confirmed to be registered in her name.
It remains unclear when Shaw is next scheduled to appear in court or whether she has entered a plea.
Courtney Shaw has been placed on leave after her arrest
Cherokee Sheriff's Office
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The allegations against Shaw come as Walmart has reduced self-checkout availability in some states over the past few years.
In 2024, Newsweek reported that Walmart said the move was meant to “improve the in-store shopping experience and give our associates the chance to provide more personalized and efficient service.”
However, many believe the changes were also aimed at limiting theft linked to self-checkout misuse.
Walmart is not alone, as retailers across the country continue to face similar challenges.
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According to Capital One Shopping, more than 36 million Americans have stolen items using self-checkout kiosks.
Data published on January 21 found that 27 percent of consumers admit to stealing at self-checkout, while 55 percent said they planned to do it again.