An assistant principal in Georgia is facing serious charges after being caught in a shocking shoplifting scheme that played out over several weeks at Walmart — and it wasn’t a petty crime.
Courtney Janell Shaw, 47, an administrator at Free Home Elementary School in Cherokee County, was arrested on January 19 after police say she swiped nearly $1,000 worth of merchandise using a sneaky self-checkout trick known as “stacking.” According to Fox 5 Atlanta, Shaw allegedly stacked multiple items on top of each other and scanned only one, then walked out of the store with the rest.
Authorities say the scheme wasn’t a one-time lapse in judgment. Surveillance footage reportedly shows Shaw pulling off the trick multiple times between November and December, ultimately stealing 98 items worth $943.97.
The Cherokee Tribune reports that Shaw was booked on a felony count of shoplifting and released the same day on a $4,875 bond.
NEW: Georgia Assistant Principal Arrested After Stealing from Walmart… 98 TIMES in Just 2 Months!
Courtney Janell Shaw, 47, from Free Home Elementary School, accused of using “stacking” trick at self-checkout to steal ~$944 in goods.
How did she pull this off so many times? pic.twitter.com/tjvIDXTI6Z
— i Expose Racists & Pedos (@SeeRacists) January 28, 2026
As the news broke, so did her status at the school. The Cherokee County School District confirmed Shaw has been placed on administrative leave while both internal and police investigations are underway. The district didn’t mince words, stating: “Maintaining the safety and security of our students and staff is our top priority and inappropriate conduct will never be tolerated.”
Shaw’s arrest has left parents stunned, especially considering her extensive background in education. She joined Free Home Elementary in 2024 and brought more than two decades of experience to the role, having previously served as assistant principal at two other elementary schools.
Investigators were tipped off on January 12, when a Walmart employee turned over surveillance footage of the thefts. By January 14, police had used a driver’s license database to match the suspect to Shaw. Two vehicles spotted in the footage — a 2018 Ford F-150 and a 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee — were later found at her home and tied to her name.
Assistant principal accused of swiping 98 items from Walmart using brazen self-checkout scheme https://t.co/jj65J2NcvT pic.twitter.com/YzrGrYvdKM
— New York Post (@nypost) January 29, 2026
It’s a dramatic fall from grace for an educator who built her career working with children. While the courts will determine the legal consequences, the damage to Shaw’s professional reputation — and trust in her leadership — may already be beyond repair.
As the investigation continues, parents, students, and fellow staff are left to wonder how someone entrusted with guiding young minds ended up behind bars for what appears to be a calculated, ongoing act of theft.
