Palestine TX July 2 2018 A Texas state prison officer was looking through the other side of the bars Friday, after he was arrested for shoplifting at a local craft store.

At roughly 5 p.m. Friday, Palestine Police Officer Carlos Mata responded to a call from Hobby Lobby, 2150 South Loop 256. The call came from the store’s co-manager, Jeremy Dearman.

Dearman told Mata that Texas Department of Criminal Justice officer Justin Moore, dressed in his TDCJ uniform, had been caught leaving the store with approximately $175 worth of paint tubes. He had concealed the merchandise in the cargo pockets of his uniform pants.

Moore, who works as a corrections officer at the Michael Unit in Tennessee Colony, has worked for TDCJ since December 2017.

Mata placed Moore under arrest and took him to Anderson County Jail. Moore was charged with the misdemeanor offense of theft of property between $100 and $750. He is being held on a $3,500 bond.

Although the property was returned, Dearman informed police the company intended to pursue criminal charges against Moore.

All suspects are to be considered innocent until proven guilty.

Share this post: on Twitter on Facebook