Woman Arrested After Stealing $600 From Jurors

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – A woman has been arrested for allegedly stealing over $600 from a jury room at the Allegheny County Courthouse earlier this week.

According to the Allegheny County Sheriff's Office, Jawanda L. Tench, 38, was arrested on Wednesday.

The alleged incident happened on Tuesday around 11 a.m. in Judge Anthony Mariani's jury room.

When jurors returned to the room to begin deliberations, they discovered the thefts.

Surveillance footage captured Tench in various parts of the courthouse. Witnesses also described her as, "acting suspiciously in the hallway near the jury room."

Tench allegedly entered the room and stole $520 from the personal belongings of nine jurors.

She was arrested at her home in Swissvale Wednesday night without incident. She is facing a list of charges including, burglary, criminal trespass and receiving stolen property.

"She was arrested the day before by Ross Township Police for retail theft and false ID to law enforcement," said Allegheny County Sheriff's Department Chief Deputy Kevin Kraus.

She was released from jail on Tuesday before heading to the courthouse.

It's still unclear how she gained access to the jury room.

"Typically when the jury leaves the room, the tip staff will lock the door, but in this case the door was not locked," Kraus said.

Courthouse management is working to ensure a security breach of this kind doesn't happen again.

Tench is charged on several counts, including burglary and trespass. She is currently in the Allegheny County Jail.

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