Helena Woman Caught Using Children as Thieves

HELENA, Mont. (AP) — A 27-year-old Helena woman is denying charges she enlisted the help of five children to steal a cartful of merchandise from Walmart.

The Independent Record reports Desarae Nicole Cline pleaded not guilty in Helena Municipal Court last week to misdemeanor charges of endangering the welfare of children and shoplifting.

Prosecutors allege she filled up a shopping cart with $373 worth of items and instructed the children to leave the store with the cart. A store security officer noticed the children leaving, investigated and called police.

Court records say Cline used her 11-month and 6-year-old daughters, along with three other children to commit the crime.