FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Dec. 20, 2018
Former Mandeville Police Officer Found Guilty of Shoplifting
COVINGTON—District Attorney Warren Montgomery reports that Johnnie A. Sanders, 43, a former Mandeville Police Department officer, was found guilty Tuesday (December 19) 
of theft for shoplifting from a hardware store. District Judge Scott Gardner, who presided over the misdemeanor trial, sentenced Sanders to a six-month suspended sentence, one year of probation, and a fine of $200 plus court costs.
The incident occurred Feb. 20, 2017, when Sanders entered the Home Depot, placed a saw and laser measure in his shopping cart, and opened a Rigid drill combo kit. Sanders then removed two batteries, valued at $168, from the kit and placed the batteries under the box that contained the saw. He paid for the saw and laser but made no attempt to pay for the concealed batteries underneath the other merchandise. Sanders exited the store without paying for the batteries. The theft was captured on surveillance video.
Assistant District Attorney Darrell Sims prosecuted the case.
Mandeville Police Chief Gerald Sticker issued the following statement: “On behalf of the men and women of the Mandeville Police Department, I would like to thank District Attorney Montgomery’s office for the successful prosecution of Mr. Sanders. As I have previously stated at the time of Sanders’ termination, those who break the very laws that they are sworn to enforce will not be tolerated by myself nor this agency.”