A Whitwell woman is facing multiple criminal charges in Cumberland County after loss prevention personnel caught her repeatedly “skip-scanning” items at a local Walmart self-checkout line.

Jaclyn Kara Smith, 47, of Woodmont Drive, Whitwell, Tennessee, has been charged with four separate counts of theft of merchandise (shoplifting) following an investigation by local authorities.

According to court dockets and affidavits filed in the Cumberland County General Sessions Court, the charges stem from a series of incidents that took place between May and June 2026.

According to police affidavits, officers responded to the Walmart location in Crossville regarding ongoing theft reports:

• May 3, 2026: Officer Braxdon King responded to a report from Walmart loss prevention. Surveillance footage from approximately 10:43 a.m. showed Smith scanning select items at the self-checkout while “skip-scanning” a large volume of other merchandise, hiding the unpaid items inside bags with the paid goods. She exited the store with approximately $124.55 worth of stolen property.

• June 3, 2026: Sergeant Keith Sadula responded to a secondary report from loss prevention. Video surveillance captured Smith at the self-checkout again, this time skip-scanning a cooler and a chair before walking past all points of sale without paying. The total value of the items was $22.91.

Following the review of store surveillance and identification portals, Walmart loss prevention confirmed they wished to press charges. Formal criminal complaints were filed on June 4, 2026, resulting in four total counts of theft of merchandise.

Smith’s cases appeared on the Cumberland County General Sessions Court criminal docket on July 8, 2026.