Pa. woman denies leaving 8-year-old granddaughter with shoplifted goods, but will stand trial

Grandmother faces trial in ‘holding the bags’ case

UNIONTOWN, Pa. — A southwestern Pennsylvania woman who denied leaving her 8-year-old granddaughter behind with stolen goods was ordered to stand trial on shoplifting charges. Elaine Weimer, 50, was ordered to stand trial on Wednesday on charges of retail theft, endangering the welfare of a child, and corruption of minors.

Workers at a Wal-Mart store in South Union Township testified they confronted Weimer about shoplifting on June 23. The girl returned $199 worth of items in reusable shopping bags she was carrying — but the employees said Weimer denied knowing the girl, got in her car and drove away.

The girl was not charged and told state police her grandmother told her “to get stuff for her grandmother and her grandmother made her hold the bags.”