Woman To Stand Trial For Alleged False Claim Of Toy Theft At Community Center
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- Carmen Randall faces one count of filing a false report to police for an incident that did not occur. She waived her right to a preliminary hearing today, sending the case to trial.
What police say did not occur was her report to them that more than 300 toys collected for kids in East Hills during a Christmas giveaway program last December were stolen.
As a result, both police and the community rallied to replace the supposed stolen toys.
Eventually, a review of surveillance video showed no break in, according to police and Randall was charged.
"The toys that were allegedly missing probably were never missing," said defense attorney Milton Raiford. "They were distributed to children."
Reporters asked, "In East Hills or outside of East Hills?"
"Probably both," replied Raiford. "But they were distributed to children. They weren't distributed to somebody to sell, they weren't distributed to a pawn shop, they weren't distributed to somebody where she got pecuniary gain from it in other words, she didn't sell any toys. She gave toys away to children."
Still, she faces a third degree misdemeanor which could bring fines and or a jail term if convicted.
Her attorney said the decision to send the case directly to trial could begin the process of exploring a probation program for her.
"We waived our case to court today so we can continue to dialogue with the District Attorney's office that I've started that she perhaps can be entered into a program to keep her record clean," Raiford said.
Randall will be formally arraigned in June but over the summer, her lawyer will be in lengthy discussions with the D.A. about just how this case will end.
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