GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) – A Sheboygan man is facing multiple felonies after a crime spree spurred by inattentive driving.
27-year-old Adam L. Wilson is charged with two counts of felony bail jumping, retail theft and taking and driving a vehicle without owner’s consent. All charges have repeater enhancers.
According to the criminal complaint, Wilson’s partner-in-crime told police that it all began on the morning of April 12. Wilson was driving both of them in his car from a Walmart when around 7:20 a.m., when he rear-ended a school bus because Wilson was on the phone at the time.
Wilson apparently saw kids were getting on the bus as the crash happened, and with that, he backed up and sped down Mason Street to get away.
A few hours later, they took the car to get a damage estimate on it. That price tag was $5,800. Wilson tried to get a loaner car from a local dealership so they could go to the hospital. The dealership refused, because Wilson’s insurance lapsed and his license was expired.
After getting a friend to drive them to the hospital, they tried going back to the dealership. There, per the complaint, Wilson took a key to a vehicle. They tried pressing the buttons on the key FOB to locate the vehicle, but couldn’t find it. They got back in Wilson’s car to drive home.
Around 9:03 p.m., both went to Kohl’s on E. Mason Street. Once inside, Wilson grabbed two watches, taking one out of the package and the other hidden in a pocket. Minutes later, Wilson grabs a package of four cubic zirconia earrings off of a display case. He takes two of those earrings out of the package, and tosses the package onto a shelf.
Around 9:28 p.m., Wilson goes to the jewelry counter. He asks about a pair of earrings valued at $5,000. Wilson quickly swapped the earrings, taking the valuable ones and leaving the cubic zirconia behind without the employee noticing.
Then, around 9:45 p.m., Wilson goes to the fragrance section and grabs 3 tester colognes on display. From there, Wilson goes to the electronics section. He goes out of surveillance camera view and takes the security device off of a 32-inch flat screen TV, along with the security tape from one of the ends.
They bring the TV up to the customer service area in an attempt to return it. Wilson told employees he, “didn’t have the receipt on him,” and they initially offered store credit. Later, the manager came over and knew they didn’t come in with the TV, and decided to call police. The two men ran off.
According to the complaint, the pair ran along the side of the building toward a nearby car dealership when they were earlier the day. The key Wilson had stolen belonged to a vehicle secured inside of the building.
The two spotted a brand new van parked outside of the dealership and when they tried the door it was open. Both jumped inside the van and a key was found. When Wilson started the van up, the vehicle warned it had just 5 miles left on the gas tank.
They drove the van to an area behind an old building nearby in order to climb a hill to look out for responding police officers. After not spotting any, Wilson drove the van back to the dealership when a security guard saw them. The security officer told them to get out of the van and Wilson accidentally left his wallet and two cell phones in the van, along with the 2 stolen watches.
The pair ran from the security guard back to their car parked at Kohl’s. Wilson drove crazy getting away from the scene.
Police went to the dealership and spoke with the security guard who turned over the cell phones, wallet and watches left in the van. Officers also checked with Kohl’s officials, viewed surveillance video of the series of events inside the store.
Adam L. Wilson had been charged on March 24, 2016, with felony retail theft in Sheboygan County and released on bond. Wilson violated the conditions of that bond.
Wilson is currently in the Brown County Jail under a $10,000 bond. He’s due back in court for his arraignment May 23. If convicted of all counts, Wilson faces nearly 30 years in prison.
