IC man accused of shoplifting hundreds of dollars in merchandise over the course of two months from downtown department store

Lang
11/17/22

An Iowa City man faces charges that he stole hundreds of dollars in merchandise from a downtown Iowa City department store over the course of two months.

27-year-old Amos Gotoe Lavela of the Town & Campus Apartments on Arthur Street was booked into the Johnson County Jail just after 5:45 Wednesday night. Iowa City Police say Lavela entered the Washington Street Target on 26 different occasions between September 20^th and November 9^th, stealing $517.76 worth of merchandise. Lavela also allegedly attempted to steal another $109.96 in items in that same time frame.

Lavela is also accused of stealing food from the hot bar at the Bread Garden Market on the Ped Mall around 5:30 Tuesday night. He has multiple previous theft convictions.

Lavela is trespassed from both Target and the Bread Garden Market for previous thefts. He now faces two counts each of 3^rd Degree Theft and Trespassing. If convicted on all charges, he faces a maximum of over four years in prison.