According to the Associated Press, a Worthington woman has pleaded guilty to kidnapping a Walmart cashier in New Ulm in June.
Elizabeth Swett, 38, pleaded guilty on September 11 in Brown County court to charges of making terroristic threats and kidnapping. She is also facing misdemeanor theft, fifth-degree assault, and attempted robbery.
Entering into a plea agreement, Swett stated she went to the New Ulm Walmart on June 14, 2012 and took the cashier hostage, forcing her to the parking lot. Swett had also made a bomb threat, stating that there was a bomb in the store.
Witnesses said in the complaint that Swett released the cashier when police arrived on the scene at approximately 6:25 p.m., but she resisted arrest for a brief period. The store had to be evacuated by police so it could be searched, but no bomb was found. Customers and employees were able to go back into the store at 8:30 p.m.
A Victim Specialist has said that the cashier who was taken hostage was still very traumatized and has been seeking counseling.
Swett is facing up to 20 years in prison and $35,000 in fines for felony kidnapping and $3,000 in fines and one year in prison for the terroristic threat.
Police were able to review the entire event via surveillance video, which matched the accounts given by Walmart employees.
A pre-sentence investigation was set by the judge with a sentencing date scheduled for October 16th in Brown County District Court. Swett has been held on unconditional bail in the amount of $100,000 since her arrest.