'Mommy of the Birthday Boy' and Friend Heist Children's Clothing at Orland Square: Prosecutor

ORLAND PARK, IL -- Two Chicago women were arrested after fleeing Orland Square Mall where they took hundreds of dollars worth of children’s clothing, prosecutors said.

Marissa Jones, 23, appeared in court wearing a “Mommy of the Birthday Boy” shirt, along with her alleged accomplice, Charlene Jackson, 25, where both were charged with felony retail theft.

According to the charges, Jones and Jackson were spotted around 5:51 p.m. Oct. 30 at JC Penney, 3 Orland Square Drive. Loss prevention officers said they observed the women selecting children’s clothing totaling $1,284 and leaving the store without paying.

When confronted by a loss prevention officer outside the store, the prosecutor said the women dumped the merchandise and ran out of the mall. The loss prevention officer was able to put out a description of the vehicle.

Orland Park police caught up with the women two miles from the mall. The prosecutor said they were positively identified by the loss prevention officer. Jones and Jackson also allegedly made admissions to taking the clothing.

Neither has a criminal background, the prosecutor said.

The assistant public defender told the judge that Jackson has four young children and is still nursing her 3-month-old infant. The baby was being cared for by family members and Jackson only had two bottles left of breast milk. He asked for a reasonable bond.

"Who's going to take care of your children if you go to the penitentiary, assuming you're innocent," Cook County Judge Peter Felice asked Jones, noting her t-shirt.

Cook County Judge Peter Felice released both women on $25,000 I-bonds with electronic monitoring. Jones and Jackson’s next court hearing is Nov. 17 in Bridgeview.