Defendant Accused Of Swapping Barcodes In Series Of Four Felony Walmart Thefts

JONESBORO, Ark. — A Jonesboro defendant is facing four felony shoplifting counts after the Craighead County Sheriff’s Office arrested him in connection with a series of thefts reported at Walmart on Parker Road.

Mark Lee Shane McGinnis, 45, was arrested on four counts of shoplifting. Bail was set at $5,000 cash or surety.

According to the affidavit, officers took four separate theft reports on March 23, 2026, from the Walmart at 1911 W. Parker Road. Investigators identified two suspects through store records and surveillance as Amber and Mark McGinnis.

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The affidavit said the incidents began on March 9, when surveillance footage showed the suspects at a self-checkout station using a “skip-scanning” method. Investigators said some items were scanned while others were placed directly into bags without being scanned. The affidavit said they left with $36.28 in unpaid merchandise.

On March 14, investigators said both suspects were seen scanning merchandise, including clothing, while obtaining items at a lower price by switching bar codes on the merchandise before leaving the store. The affidavit said they completed a transaction for less than $10, but the actual value of the items they left with was $56.32.

According to the affidavit, the suspects returned on March 17 and selected a generator valued at $398. Investigators said they scanned a fraudulent barcode attached to the box, causing a “random item” to ring up for $26. They then paid the lower amount and left with the generator.

The fourth incident happened on March 22, according to the affidavit, when the suspects selected a generator and a fan. Investigators said they attempted to scan bar codes for items of a lesser value at the self-checkout, but were stopped by Walmart employees as they tried to leave. The affidavit said the suspects abandoned the generator and fan in the cart and fled with only the items they had successfully paid for. The value of the attempted theft was listed as $477.84.

The affidavit noted prior theft convictions for both suspects. The user said the shoplifting charges were upgraded to felonies because this was a second offense.

All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.