Woman sentenced in Alabaster Walmart robbery

Published 11:55 am Friday, April 17, 2015

By NEAL WAGNER / Managing Editor

COLUMBIANA – A 37-year-old Wilsonville woman will spend the next two years in prison, and must avoid the Alabaster Walmart store after she pleaded guilty in late March to robbing the store.

Sumrall

Sumrall

Jennifer Carol Sumrall, who lists an address on Alabama 25 in Wilsonville, pleaded guilty to charges of first-degree robbery and possession of a controlled substance during a March 23 hearing in front of Shelby County Circuit Court Judge Dan Reeves.

Reeves sentenced Sumrall, who had two prior adult felony convictions, to a total of two years in prison, followed by three years of supervised probation.

While on probation, Sumrall must pass random drug and alcohol screens, and must avoid initiating contact with the Alabaster Walmart, according to court documents.

The Alabaster Police Department arrested Sumrall on Sept. 2, 2014. The arrest came after Sumrall allegedly attempted to steal “multiple miscellaneous items” valued at about $836 from the store at about 11:15 a.m. on Sept. 2.

When an employee of the store confronted Sumrall, the suspect allegedly “threaten(ed) the imminent use of force against the person … to overcome his or her physical resistance or physical power of resistance” to escape the scene with the items.

During the incident, Sumrall was allegedly armed with a knife, which court documents described as a “deadly weapon or dangerous instrument.”

The possession of a controlled substance charge came after Sumrall allegedly was in possession of carisoprodol, hydrocodone and alprazolam at the time of the alleged robbery.

First-degree robbery is a Class A felony, and is punishable by up to life in prison.