Translate
OREGON CITY, Or. -- Clackamas County law enforcement agencies periodically conduct retail theft missions targeting shoplifters who steal from local businesses.
On April 3, 2025, the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office, in partnership with the Wilsonville Police Department, arrested 17 people for theft during a one-day investigation that targeted multiple retail stores.
“I want to update you on the status of these efforts to combat retail theft in our county,” said Clackamas County District Attorney John Wentworth.
“Shoplifting is a costly crime that affects both businesses and consumers. Some of these thefts involve goods valued at more than $1,000,” Wentworth said. “My office vigorously prosecutes all retail theft cases referred to us.”
It takes time for criminal cases to work their way through the judicial process. Here’s the status of those arrested on April 3 as of August 20:
- Convictions: 5
- Cases awaiting trial: 5
- Defendants who failed to appear in court: 3
- One case was dismissed due to insufficient evidence.
Three juveniles were contacted and referred to the Juvenile Department for appropriate intervention.
The arrestees were charged with Theft in the Second Degree (value of items taken was $100 or more but less than $1,000) or Theft in the Third Degree (value of items taken was less than $100.)
Theft in the Second Degree is a Class A misdemeanor with a penalty of up to 364 days in jail and a $6,250 fine. Theft in the Third Degree is a Class C misdemeanor with a penalty of up to 30 days in jail and a $1,250 fine.
Here are a few of the individuals arrested during the April retail theft mission:
- Skyler David Kobernick, 31, was found guilty of Theft in the Second Degree for stealing $269.91 in merchandise from a Target store. Kobernik was sentenced to 25 days in jail and 18 months on probation. Kobernik has pending charges for theft in Marion and Benton counties and two pending drug possession cases in Linn County.
- Leslie Kay Manley-Knauer, 52, was found guilty of Theft in the Second Degree for stealing $189 in merchandise from a Fred Meyer store. She was sentenced to five days in jail. Manley-Knauer was convicted of Theft in the First Degree in 2022 for stealing $1006 in merchandise from the Fred Meyer store in Canby. At the time of her April 2025 arrest, she was trespassed from all Fred Meyer locations.
- Trumaine Griffin, 42, was charged with Theft in the Second Degree for allegedly stealing $761 worth of items from a Target store. Griffin failed to appear at a May 6 court hearing, and a warrant was issued for his arrest. Griffin has several convictions for theft and drug crimes over the past 20 years.
The retail theft mission was funded, in part, by the Organized Retail Theft (ORT) Grant Program, created by Oregon Senate Bill 900 (2023) and administered by the Oregon Criminal Justice Commission. The Clackamas County Sheriff's Office was awarded $686,000 for FY2024-25, which helps fund staffing and equipment for law enforcement missions and other efforts to combat organized retail theft and hold those offenders accountable.