An assistant principal from a Georgia elementary school found herself in legal trouble last Monday, after being implicated in a series of shoplifting episodes at Walmart. These incidents involved a clever “stacking” technique at self-checkout kiosks, resulting in the theft of approximately $1,000 worth of goods, as reported by Fox 5 Atlanta.

Courtney Janell Shaw, aged 47, was reportedly captured on surveillance footage engaging in a method where she would stack items, scan only one, and then leave the store without paying for the rest. Following these discoveries, she was taken into custody and charged with one felony count of shoplifting. Shaw was booked into the Cherokee County jail but was released on the same day after posting a $4,875 bond, according to the local outlet Cherokee Tribune.

Investigations revealed that Shaw allegedly stole a total of 98 items, valued at $943.97, during the months of November and December of the previous year.

In light of these allegations, Free Home Elementary School in Cherokee County has placed Shaw, who has been an educator for over two decades and is a mother, on administrative leave.

This incident highlights an unexpected turn in the life of Courtney Shaw, who was arrested on January 19, 2026, due to her involvement in multiple shoplifting cases at Walmart locations across Georgia. (Sources: Fox 5; Google Maps)

“Immediately upon these allegations being reported, the employee was placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of internal and law enforcement investigations,” the district told Fox 5. 

“Maintaining the safety and security of our students and staff is our top priority and inappropriate conduct will never be tolerated.”

Courtney Shaw was arrested last Monday after allegedly stealing nearly $1,000 worth of merchandise at Walmart in Georgia. (Courtney Shaw / Facebook)

Her alleged shoplifting spree was first reported on Jan. 12 when a Walmart employee provided police surveillance footage of Shaw appearing to steal the products, according to the outlet, citing the incident report.  

Two days later, investigators reportedly matched Shaw to the thefts using a driver’s license database.

Courtney Shaw, the assistant principal at Free Home Elementary School in Georgia, has been placed on administrative leave.  (Courtney Shaw / Facebook)

Authorities reportedly said the two suspicious vehicles they noted in the surveillance footage, a 2018 Ford F-150 and a 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee, were registered to Shaw and later found at her residence.

According to the school’s website, Shaw joined Free Home Elementary in 2024 as the assistant principal. Her education career spans more than two decades and includes previous leadership roles as an assistant principal at two other elementary schools.