Clothing’s value disputed

Tuesday, Aug. 3, 2004 | 9:27 a.m.

A woman accused of having stolen clothes from the trendy store where she worked wanted a discount on her charges.

Trying to avoid a felony charge for her client, her lawyer argued that the charges should be reduced because the value of the clothes -- $270 -- wasn't what she would have paid for them.

Sonja Foster is charged with possession of stolen property, a pair of pants and three shirts from Georgiou at The Shops in Desert Passage at the Aladdin.

Deputy Public Defender Lauren Diefenbach told District Judge Lee Gates the value of the clothing should have been valued at 40 to 60 percent less than what the prosecution claims because of Foster's employee discount.

Whether or not the employee discount should be applied to the stolen property is significant because under Nevada law possession of stolen property worth $250 or more is considered a felony.

Chief Deputy District Attorney L.J. O'Neale argued Foster had already gotten a large enough discount.

"She can't have the employee discount when she already got the five-finger discount," O'Neale said.

Gates agreed as he rejected the motion, the charges would be for "whatever the market value is."