Court reverses conviction in stolen perfume case

SOUTHFIELD (AP) -- A woman accused of stealing a $58 bottle of perfume at a Detroit-area mall has been cleared after the Michigan appeals court said she was convicted under the wrong law. A jury convicted Chandra Smith-Anthony of larceny from a person. But in a 2-1 decision, the appeals court says the perfume was taken from Macy's -- not a person. A store detective suspected that Smith-Anthony had stolen an item and was keeping an eye on her. The employee followed her out of the Southfield store and finally confronted her. While not defending what happened, the appeals court says the law simply doesn't fit. Judge William Whitbeck disagrees. He says there's enough evidence to show that the security officer qualifies as a person closest to the crime. Published: Tue, May 8, 2012