Woman Caught Stealing $5K From Pleasant Valley Employer, Police Say

A 21-year-old woman is behind bars after state police say she stole more than $5,000 from her employer in Dutchess.

An investigation of a report of theft from the Smokes 4 Less on North Avenue in Pleasant Valley on Thursday, Sept. 28 determined that Daniel R. Lessner took merchandise and scanned the items as returned in the register, police said. Lessner then stole the money credited for each return.

Lessner was charged with grand larceny in the third degree (a Class D felony) and falsifying business records in the first degree, a Class E felony.

Lessner was arraigned before the Town of Pleasant Valley Court and remanded to the Dutchess County Jail in lieu of $2,500 cash bail or $5,000 bond. Her next scheduled to appear before the Pleasant Valley Justice Court on Wednesday, Oct. 4.

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