Two Sentenced in Connection With Apple Valley Felony Theft Case
APPLE VALLEY, MINNESOTA—A theft case involving over $1,500 in merchandise stolen from an Apple Valley retail store concluded with two defendants being sentenced following guilty pleas.
According to the criminal complaint from the Dakota County Attorney’s Office, on December 8, 2024, Apple Valley police were dispatched to Kohl’s after loss prevention staff reported a theft in progress at the store. The criminal complaint states that a male and female were seen loading over $1,000 worth of merchandise into a cart, exiting the store through a fire door, and triggering an alarm. Officers arrived at the scene and observed a black SUV parked near the fire exit. A male suspect was loading merchandise into the vehicle while a female suspect was seated in the backseat. A second male was mentioned sitting in the vehicle’s driver’s seat, but was never identified in court documents.
According to court documents, loss-prevention staff identified the female suspect, later identified as Kaneesha Monique Sims, 31, of Saint Paul, and a male suspect, who was later identified as Earnest Carlo Karlman White, 46, of Louisiana, as the two individuals they saw loading a cart in the store with items and leaving through the fire escape. The total value of the stolen merchandise was confirmed to be $1,545.75.
Kaneesha Monique Sims
Sims faced charges of Felony Theft under Minnesota Statute 609.52.2(a)(1). According to court documents, after being arrested, Sims admitted to ingesting controlled substances and was taken to a hospital for treatment. Court records indicate she has a history of legal troubles, including active probation violation warrants from Dakota and Goodhue Counties at the time of her arrest.
On January 7, 2025, Sims pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting theft. Court records show she was sentenced to a stay of imposition, meaning her felony conviction will be reduced to a misdemeanor if she completes probation. Sims received a sentence of 31 days in Dakota County Jail, with credit for time served, and was placed on three years of supervised probation. She must also complete random chemical testing, remain law-abiding, and avoid the Apple Valley Kohl’s store.
In a separate case from April 2021 involving felony financial transaction card fraud, charges against Sims were dismissed as part of her guilty plea agreement.
Earnest Carlo Karlman White
White also faces Felony Theft charges and had an active warrant in Louisiana at the time of his arrest, according to court documents. Similar to Sims, White told police he ingested methamphetamine following his arrest and refused medical treatment at the hospital, according to court documents.
White’s attorney negotiated a plea agreement that includes a 15-month stayed prison sentence at the Minnesota Correctional Facility in St. Cloud, Minnesota. Court documents show he will serve 45 days in the county jail, with 30 days credited as of January 7, 2025. Court documents state he was also given three years of probation, including restitution, a chemical dependency evaluation, and an Apple Valley Kohl’s store ban.
Written by: Will Wight
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