Newton Police Department
• Meggen A. Richards, 28, of Des Moines, was charged with fifth-degree theft from an incident that occurred at 2:10 p.m. April 27. According to the Newton Police Department, Richards and a male acquaintance entered Walmart on Iowa Speedway Drive and loaded a cart with $188.91 worth of merchandise. The male acquaintance tried to distract an employee as Richards allegedly tried to exit the store without paying. When employees tried to stop Richards, she pushed the cart aside and ran. Through the investigation, the police department identified the defendant as Richards. Richards was picked up July 31 at the Polk County Jail on a warrant for the charge.
• Madeline J. Otto, 19, homeless, was charged with trespass from an incident that occurred at 2:24 p.m. July 24 in the 200 block of East 12th Street North. According to the Newton Police Department, she was found inside a vacant house owned by the City of Newton. Police said Otto was using the residence without permission and she had no right to be inside of the structure. She was arrested and taken to the Jasper County Jail.