MONROE — The woman convicted of receiving stolen property in a string of cemetery thefts, who initially failed to turned herself in to Green County Jail, has pleaded not guilty to the crime in Green County Circuit Court.

Carrie A. Thompson pleaded not guilty to a single felony charge of failure to report to jail charge before Circuit Judge Thomas J. Vale Monday.

She turned herself in last Sunday, Feb. 11, more than two weeks after her initial reporting date of Jan. 27. She was last seen by authorities at her court appearance Jan. 22, during which Judge Thomas J. Vale sentenced her to 60 days in jail and more than 700 hours of community service. Attorney Jane Krueger Smith represented Thompson in court at a status conference Jan. 24.

If convicted of the new felony charge, she faces a maximum potential sentence of 6 years in state prison. Thompson earlier in January pleaded guilty to just five counts through a plea agreement reached between the defendant and District Attorney Craig Nolen’s office that called for years of probation and community service.  

Circuit Judge Thomas Vale accepted the agreement but with the addition of 60 days in jail. She was to report to jail the following Saturday but did not, resulting in a new felony charge and a warrant for her arrest. She is represented in the felony case by Attorney Matt Latta.

Thompson was originally arrested after she was found in possession of stolen lawn decoration items, solar lights, and memorial and decorative items from grave sites in Monroe, Brodhead, Green County; and some Lafayette County locations. She would then allegedly sell them on social media or elsewhere. In Monroe, authorities said, Greenwood and Calvary Cemeteries were especially hard hit.

Her next appearance on the case is a pre-trial conference scheduled for 8:30 a.m. March 19. She remains in custody without bond, serving out her original sentence, according to court records. It is unclear at this time if she will be eligible for bond on the new charge.