Wisconsin woman pleads not guilty to theft from Gurnee friends

A Wisconsin woman accused of stealing a portable generator from the home of some friends in Gurnee pleaded not guilty Thursday in Lake County Circuit Court.

Marisa Jones, 20, of Pleasant Prairie, faces up to five years in prison if convicted of theft but would also be eligible for probation.

Assistant State’s Attorney Reginald Matthews said Jones went to the house of some friends in the 1000 block of Branch Court on July 30 to borrow some money. After getting the money, Matthews said, Jones went into the house’s attached garage and took a portable generator worth $1,000.

The residents of the house discovered the generator missing the same day, Matthews said, and called Jones to question her about the machine.

Matthews said Jones admitted she had taken the generator and had sold it for $200 at a pawnshop in Winthrop Harbor.

Gurnee police went to the pawnshop and recovered the generator and arrested Jones.

Circuit Judge Fred Foreman scheduled a trial of the case for Nov, 28. Foreman ordered Jones, who is free on $250 bond, to appear in court Nov. 15.