Renton woman, 20, sentenced in connection with theft ring

A Renton woman who was involved in an organized theft operation was sentenced to credit for time served, while her codefendant received a 33-month sentence.

Following a guilty plea and subsequent plea agreement, on Sept. 12, Reality Leavens, 20, of Renton, was sentenced to credit for time served for second-degree organized retail theft. Documents state that Leavens did not have any convictions on her record at the time of her guilty plea.

As part of her plea agreement, Leavens’ other charge of organized retail theft was dismissed. Leavens’ dismissed charge of retail theft stemmed from an alleged Aug. 9, 2023, theft at a Lululemon in Kirkland.

One of Leavens’ two codefendants, Janeice Renee Downs, of Kent, following a guilty plea, was sentenced on Aug. 22 to 33 months in prison. Downs was charged with and pleaded guilty to four counts of first-degree organized retail theft, one count of second-degree organized retail theft, one count of first-degree theft and one count of first-degree trafficking in stolen property, totaling seven criminal counts. These charges stem from a series of retail store thefts as part of a three-state crime ring, which totaled $537,000 worth of stolen merchandise.

However, Leavens was only convicted for one charge related to the series of thefts. According to documents, on Aug. 15, 2023, Leavens participated in a theft at a Lululemon store located at 224 Bellevue Square. Documents state that in the theft, $6,774 of clothing was stolen from Lululemon. Downs was also convicted in connection with this incident on Aug. 15, 2023.

“Together with accomplices, with the intent to deprive another of property (merchandise), I wrongfully obtained property (women’s clothing) belonging to Lululemon Athletica Inc., a mercantile establishment, and the value of the property was over $5,000,” Leavens said in her guilty plea. “I went into Lululemon with accomplices and took leggings. I then left Lululemon without paying for any of the clothing I had taken.”

Documents state that at the Aug. 15, 2023, incident, at about 12:45 p.m. Leavens, alongside Downs and other suspects, entered Lululemon at Bellevue Square. According to documents, upon entering the store, surveillance footage captured Leavens removing a plastic bag from under her hijab before placing several pairs of pants in the bag.

Documents state that Leavens placed the plastic bag on the ground, and then she and the other suspects huddled around the plastic bag and added more clothes to it. One of the suspects with Leavens was carrying a baby during the theft.

The other suspects, along with Leavens, then concealed more clothes on their persons before they all left the store without paying. Documents state that, in front of Lululemon, one of the suspects handed some pairs of pants to a Lululemon sales associate, but then left with other clothes they had not paid for.