FARMINGTON — A Waterville man pleaded guilty Monday to stealing more than $1,500 in merchandise from the Farmington Walmart store Aug. 3.

Lee Wurzell, 29, pleaded guilty to a felony charge of theft.

Farmington police released a photo of Wurzell that showed him with two shopping carts filled with merchandise that he did not pay for as he left the Wilton Road store. Police had asked the public’s help in identifying him.

Assistant District Attorney James Andrews said that if the case had gone to trial, a clerk who was working the register would have testified that the defendant and a woman he was with had three, full carts of merchandise. Two carts that had already been checked out were set aside near the front of the store.

The clerk was told that a third party would pay for the items. She would testify that the woman with Wurzell had walked off and Wurzell left the store with two of the three carts.

A review of the video showed no third party shopping with Wurzell and the woman in the store, according to testimony Andrews said.

A sentencing hearing is scheduled for Dec. 13.

The agreement calls for a cap of 30 days in jail and a cap of $1,680 in restitution, Andrews said. The amount had been higher but some items were returned, he said.

dperry@sunjournal.com