NM woman heads to trial for stealing $2 pumpkin

[February 20, 2012]  ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) -- A 23-year-old college student from New Mexico is scheduled to go to trial for allegedly stealing a small pumpkin worth $2.

KOAT-TV (http://bit.ly/wXg7PI) in Albuquerque, N.M., reports that Lauren Medina will go before a jury and Moriarity Magistrate Judge Steve Jones on Tuesday. She is accused of taking the pumpkin in October 2011 from McCall's Pumpkin Patch in Moriarty.

Her sister, Annette Atencio, says Medina spent $75 on food that day but forgot to pay for the pumpkin she picked up as she was leaving. Atencio says her sister offered to pay but was refused and then handcuffed.

Atencio says she's in disbelief that the theft charge against her sister was not dropped.

She says her sister could have pleaded guilty and been given probation, but refused.

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Information from: KOAT-TV, http://www.thenewmexicochannel.com/index.html

[Associated Press]

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