Walter Lingfield is accused of stealing from the Phoenix Art Museum, the Arizona State Capitol and the Maricopa County Election Center.
PHOENIX — A former Maricopa County elections employee accused of stealing security fobs from a voting center has been indicted on three felony counts and one misdemeanor, the Maricopa County Prosecutor's Office announced Tuesday.
Walter Lingfield, 27, is accused of stealing $9,500 worth of jewelry from a mannequin at the Phoenix Art Museum, as well as seven challenge coins and three coasters from the Arizona State Capitol. He is charged with the following offenses:
- one count of computer tampering, a second-degree felony;
- one count of theft, a third-degree felony;
- one count of theft, a fourth-degree felony;
- one count of criminal trespass, a third-degree misdemeanor;
RELATED: Authorities confirm suspect in Maricopa County election center theft is the same man seen on video allegedly stealing from the Arizona Capitol
Authorities said Lingfield was seen on surveillance video making off with about $9,500 worth of vintage jewelry from the Phoenix Art Museum on May 20.
A few weeks later, on June 15, Lingfield was reportedly seen on surveillance video walking through a secured area of the Arizona State Capitol and making off with seven challenge coins and three coasters.
Then, on June 20, Lingfield, who worked for the Maricopa County Elections Department, is accused of stealing a security fob from the Maricopa County Counting and Election Center building, authorities said in the indictment.
RELATED: 'Why did he do that?': Arizona Republicans seek more information about stolen election key fobs
Shortly after Lingfield's arrest in June, Maricopa County Mayor Bill Gates said Lingfield Jr. had passed a background check despite a previous theft conviction in Arizona, for which he was placed in a felony diversion program.
“We do criminal background checks and those checks didn't uncover anything like this. He was given diversion measures, but again, that's on a case-by-case basis,” Gates said.
According to court records, Lingfield Jr. told the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office he took the key chain because he wanted to “clean” the building in hopes of getting permanent employment as a poll worker, but Kolodin doesn't believe him.
Lingfield is currently being held without bail.
Editor's note: The above video is from a previous broadcast.
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