Man accused of stealing over $2000 from Worth County convenience store pleads not guilty

NORTHWOOD — A Lake Mills man accused of stealing over $2000 from a Worth County convenience store has pleaded not guilty.

24-year-old Justin Ivey was charged last month with second-degree theft. He’s accused by authorities while working at the Kum & Go store near the Diamond Jo Casino of taking items off the shelves or having someone else bring up an item to the counter, ring them up as returned items, and then giving the cash to the same person. Authorities say this happened a dozen times this past November, totaling nearly $2300.

Ivey’s arraignment hearing was scheduled for today, but online court records show that he filed a written plea of not guilty on Friday in Worth County District Court. A trial date has not been scheduled.

Second-degree theft is a Class D felony punishable by up to five years in prison.