WHITEHALL TOWNSHIP, PA – A 37-year-old Lehighton woman arrested Saturday on an outstanding Monroe County warrant now faces additional retail theft charges in Lehigh County while also dealing with pending charges in Carbon County, where a bench warrant was issued in August after she failed to appear for a plea court hearing.

Shayna Lee Werner was arrested by Whitehall Township Police on November 23 and is being held at Lehigh County Jail on $5,000 bail, awaiting extradition to Monroe County on felony charges from a May theft at a Pocono Township hardware store.

Upcoming Court Dates:

• December 1, 2025, 10:15 a.m. – Preliminary Hearing (Lehigh County charges)
• December 18, 2025, 9:00 a.m. – Plea Court (Carbon County charges)

Werner has a preliminary hearing scheduled for the new Lehigh County charges before Magisterial District Judge David M. Howells Jr. She is being represented by the Lehigh County Public Defender’s Office.

The Outstanding Warrant

The arrest stemmed from an outstanding warrant issued July 8, 2025, by Magisterial District Judge Daniel Kresge in Monroe County.

According to Pocono Township Police, on May 31, 2025, around 5:00 p.m., employees of Steele’s ACE Hardware contacted police about a retail theft that had occurred earlier that day.

Security footage showed Werner placing several items in a shopping cart before moving off camera and transferring some merchandise into her purse. The video then captured her walking out of the store with a full purse and a stolen shirt visible, police said.

Werner entered a “distinctly recognizable vehicle” and left the property, according to the police report. A subsequent investigation identified the vehicle’s owner and ultimately led to Werner. Booking and license photos confirmed her identity.

Werner was charged with:

• Retail theft – take merchandise (third-degree felony)
• Receiving stolen property (third-degree felony)

A warrant was issued when Werner failed to appear for proceedings in the Monroe County case.

New Charges in Lehigh County

Werner was arrested Saturday, November 23, 2025, by Whitehall Township Police Officer Kentyn S. Chambers on the Monroe County warrant.

She now faces additional charges from the November 23 incident in Whitehall Township:

• Retail theft – take merchandise (first-degree misdemeanor)
• Possession of instrument of crime with intent (first-degree misdemeanor)

Werner was arraigned before Judge Howells late Saturday night and bail was set at $5,000. She has been unable to post bail and remains in custody at Lehigh County Jail.

Carbon County Case and Bench Warrant

Werner’s legal troubles extend to Carbon County, where she faces charges stemming from an October 3, 2024, incident in Lehighton Borough.

According to Carbon County court records, Werner was charged with:

• Unauthorized use of motor vehicle or other vehicles (second-degree misdemeanor)
• Disorderly conduct – hazardous/physical offense (summary offense)

The case, filed in January 2025, proceeded through the Carbon County Court of Common Pleas under Judge Steven R. Serfass. Werner initially posted $500 unsecured bail in February.

However, after filing a guilty plea stipulation in June, Werner failed to appear for a scheduled plea court hearing on July 14, 2025. Judge Serfass issued a bench warrant for her arrest on August 13, and her bail was revoked the following day.

The Carbon County Sheriff’s Department filed a warrant return on November 24—one day after Werner’s arrest in Lehigh County—indicating she is now in custody on that warrant as well.

Werner has a plea court hearing scheduled for December 18, 2025, in Carbon County Courtroom #3. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Brian B. Gazo.

Werner faces $89.83 in court costs and fees in the Carbon County case, including continuance fees, bench warrant fees, and sheriff’s warrant execution costs.

Multiple Jurisdictions

Werner’s legal troubles now span three counties:

Carbon County: The October 3, 2024, unauthorized use of vehicle case (CP-13-CR-0000149-2025) is active with a bench warrant issued in August after Werner failed to appear for plea court. She has a December 18 plea court hearing scheduled. Her bail in this case was revoked.

Monroe County: The May 31, 2025, retail theft case (MJ-43303-CR-0000214-2025) remains inactive as authorities await her extradition from Lehigh County. The case is being prosecuted by the Monroe County District Attorney’s Office.

Lehigh County: The November 23, 2025, case (MJ-31107-CR-0000516-2025) is active and proceeding to a preliminary hearing on December 1.

According to Pocono Township Police, Werner will await extradition from Lehigh County to face charges in both Monroe and Carbon counties.

Her December 1 preliminary hearing in Lehigh County will determine if there is sufficient evidence to advance those charges. On December 18, she is scheduled for plea court in Carbon County on the unauthorized use of vehicle charges.

Following resolution of the Lehigh County case, she will be extradited to face charges in both Carbon and Monroe counties.

If convicted on the third-degree felony charges in Monroe County, Werner could face up to seven years in prison for each count under Pennsylvania sentencing guidelines. The second-degree misdemeanor in Carbon County carries a maximum sentence of two years.

Carbon County Case: CP-13-CR-0000149-2025
Monroe County Case: MJ-43303-CR-0000214-2025
Lehigh County Case: MJ-31107-CR-0000516-2025
Carbon County Incident: 40625-0074
Monroe County Incident: 2025-00005730
Lehigh County Incident: WH-25-14371
OTNs: V 1010327-3 (Carbon), B 1013405-1 (Monroe), Q 1016200-3 (Lehigh)

All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.