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A Michigan judge sought to have Walmart shoplifters offer free car washes for their sentence, but the plan was overruled by a senior jurist.
Judge Jeffrey Clothier, who was elected to Genesee County’s 67th District Court in January, said requiring as many as 100 shoplifters caught stealing from a local Walmart to wash cars for free would serve the community and possibly discourage others from stealing from the retail giant.
Clothier said the plan for “Walmart Washes” that he came up with last month had the backing of store managers at the Walmart in Grand Blanc Township. Walmart headquarters in Arkansas supported the idea but said the car wash could not be offered on store property, so the judge believed he could just find an alternative location for the car wash, which he wanted to take place in the spring.

Judge Jeffrey Clothier said he was upset by Chief Judge William Crawford II’s ruling. (Getty Images)
“I had 37 new Walmart theft offenses two days ago. In the last month, it’s been well over 100,” he added.
Clothier said 20 to 30 judges across the state who heard about the car wash planned to join him and the shoplifters.
The judge said he is now ordering other types of community service in the Walmart shoplifting cases instead of car washes.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.