MONROE TWP., Pa. (EYT) — A New Bethlehem man is facing a misdemeanor charge after state police say he stole nearly $275 worth of merchandise from a local retail store over a month period.
According to a criminal complaint filed by Trooper Brandon Hoffman of the Pennsylvania State Police, 35-year-old Levi James Blair was charged on October 14 following an investigation into repeated retail thefts.
The complaint states the incidents occurred between April 13 and May 15 at the Clarion Walmart located at 63 Perkins Road in Monroe Township, Clarion County.
According to the affidavit of probable cause, store loss prevention personnel contacted police on May 19 to report a series of thefts.
According to the complaint, Hoffman interviewed a Walmart Loss Prevention employee who told police that Blair entered the store on April 13, taking two colognes in keeper boxes to the back of the store, breaking open the packaging, and hiding the items inside his front pants pockets. Police say Blair then purchased a fishing license before leaving without paying for the cologne and met back up with an accompanying female, who was not present when he concealed the items.
The affidavit states the employee related that on May 8, Blair returned to the store and went to the jewelry section, where he grabbed a watch and went to the cheaper side and selected another lower-priced watch. Police allege Blair concealed the more expensive watch inside his coat pocket. Police say he put the cheaper watch in a cart and left the store with the more expensive watch in his pocket, while an accompanying individual purchased the cheaper watch.
According to the criminal complaint, the employee related that on May 15, Blair selected a headlamp from the sporting goods section, opened the package, and concealed the item in his pants pocket. According to the report, Blair then discarded the empty box in the first aisle of the toys section, before leaving without paying for the item.
Trooper Hoffman reported that when asked how the employee identified Blair as the suspect, the employee related that Blair had used a debit or credit card to purchase other items at the self-checkout during the May 8 incident. The report noted that the employee told police the total value of the stolen items was approximately $274.48.
Police reportedly received video surveillance of all three incidents and were able to confirm all three accounts from the employee through the video footage.
According to the affidavit, Hoffman confirmed Blair’s identity using the video footage, comparing it to Blair’s driver’s license photo.
Court records show Blair is charged with one first-degree misdemeanor count of retail theft.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for November 10, 2026, at 11:00 a.m., in front of Magisterial District Judge Jeffrey C. Miller.