PONDERAY — A preliminary hearing is pending for a former grocery store employee accused of stealing thousands of dollars worth of deli items and merchandise over a two-year period.

Lara L. Turner is charged with grand theft. She is free on her own recognizance while the case is pending, court records show.

The case against Turner emerged in July, when she was detained by loss-prevention officials at Yoke's Fresh Market and provided a written statement admitting that she began stealing deli foods and other items shortly after she was hired, according to a probable cause affidavit.

Turner is accused of taking merchandise more than 400 times between April 2018 and April of this year, resulting in $4,400 losses to the store, the affidavit said.

Turner, 27, allegedly admitting to bagging deli items and concealing them in a meat locker, which she would retrieve at the end of her shift, court documents said. She also allegedly admitted to taking other merchandise.

A hearing to determine if the state has enough evidence to justify trying Turner on the felony charge in 1st District Court is set for Wednesday. Grand theft is punishable by one to 14 years in prison if a conviction is obtained, according to Idaho Code.

Keith Kinnaird can be reached by email at kkinnaird@bonnercountydailybee.com and follow him on Twitter @KeithDailyBee.