Byron woman sentenced to prison, banishment after shoplifting and identity theft

WARNER ROBINS — After shoplifting, stealing a credit card, and possessing meth, a Byron woman is facing a decade of prison time.

Amanda Risk, 40, pleaded guilty on July 15 to shoplifting, identity theft, and having methamphetamine, according to a release from the Houston County District Attorney’s Office.

Risk was sentenced to 10 years in prison, followed by 10 years of being banned from Houston County.

Risk was charged with shoplifting from the Academy Sports store on Watson Boulevard on June 17. Store security workers saw Risk stealing clothes and called law enforcement. Police found meth on her when she was arrested. 

Risk was also arrested for identity theft committed weeks earlier. On June 4, she took a customer’s purse from a shopping cart at Home Depot and made several unauthorized purchases using the victim’s credit cards.

The DA’s office said Risk had seven earlier misdemeanor and felony shoplifting convictions. She was previously sentenced to two years in prison for felony shoplifting in 2023, according to court documents.

Mike Smith, the prosecuting senior assistant district attorney, praised the Warner Robins Police Department for their investigation.

“Our local businesses and community members should feel free to operate in our community without having to worry about criminals terrorizing their stores or stealing their identities,” Smith said in a statement.

District Attorney Eric Edwards, in a statement, said repeat offenders leave a trail of victims, in this case, businesses and an unsuspecting citizen.

“At some point, the criminal justice system must shift its focus from rehabilitating petty thieves to protecting the law-abiding citizens and businesses who continue to bear the cost of a career criminal’s choices,” Edwards said. “Our office remains committed to holding repeat offenders accountable and ensuring that those who repeatedly victimize our businesses and our citizens face meaningful consequences. This sentence accomplishes exactly that.”