Joelle Anicia Brown, 20, of Waldorf
Joelle Anicia Brown, 20, of Waldorf, has been charged in Charles County District Court with one felony count of theft scheme involving at least $1,500 but less than $25,000 after court documents say she stole $1,605 from a Cracker Barrel restaurant in Waldorf.
According to charging documents filed by the Charles County Sheriff’s Office, an officer responded on May 1, 2026, at about 4:28 p.m. to the Cracker Barrel on Crain Highway in Waldorf for a reported theft. Court documents state the alleged thefts occurred between April 12, 2026, and May 1, 2026, as part of what investigators described as one continuing course of conduct.
In the statement of probable cause, the responding officer wrote that a district manager reported the business had an employee who had stolen $1,605 from registers over the span of two weeks. The manager also told police that regional staff had footage of the alleged thefts, though the footage was not available at the scene at that time.
Court documents state Brown allegedly admitted to the theft and provided a written statement to management. In that written statement, according to police, Brown said she had taken the money “for her own personal benefit” and to help with “financial struggles with her school.” The officer wrote that he reviewed the statement and obtained a copy for the main report.
Police said Brown was later read her Miranda rights by another officer at about 4:45 p.m. and agreed to speak with officers. According to the statement of probable cause, she “re-admitted to the theft” and said she was willing to repay the money in full if allowed to do so. A regional manager told police the business wanted to move forward with charges, and Brown was taken into custody without further incident and transported to the Charles County Detention Center.
Brown appeared for an initial appearance on May 1, 2026. Court records show she was released on her own recognizance with no bail amount set. As conditions of release, she was ordered not to engage in criminal conduct, to appear in court when notified, and not to enter or be found near the Cracker Barrel on Crain Highway in Waldorf.
The initial appearance documents also state Brown waived an attorney only for that initial appearance. A later docket entry shows attorney Jeremy Benjamin Widder entered an appearance for Brown on May 11, 2026, and filed a motion, request, or demand for discovery and inspection.
