Lang
2/3/24
A transient with a long history of thefts is accused of stealing liquor from two different Iowa City businesses Friday afternoon.
31-year-old Gregory Echols was booked into the Johnson County Jail just after 5:30 Friday night. Iowa City Police say Echols first entered John’s Grocery on East Market Street just before 3:45 p.m. and stole two bottles of Bumbu rum. The two bottles are valued at approximately $78.
About an hour later, Echols allegedly entered Casey’s on East Benton Street and stole a bottle of Jose Quervo, a phone charger and a package of vanilla cookies. The total value of the stolen items was about $32.
Arriving officers located Echols just outside the store. He was allegedly in possession of stolen items from both businesses. He now faces a pair of 3rd Degree Theft charges. If convicted, he faces a maximum of four years in jail.
Echols has a lengthy history of thefts, which is why he faces the enhanced theft charges.