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Fields charges held over

Court proceedings against three former Red Deer Fields Store employees accused of theft and fraud have been held over for one week.

Court proceedings against three former Red Deer Fields Store employees accused of theft and fraud have been held over for one week.

Dozens of charges have been laid against three women in relation to an internal investigation followed up by members of the Red Deer RCMP.

Police allege that the three former staff, Bernadette Couturier, 42, Tara Munro, 31, and Marlina House, 25, pilfered a large volume of goods from the store from December 2011 through to May 3 of this year, when charges were laid.

Charges also include multiple counts of fraud in relation to false refunds on returned goods.

House has been charged with 41 counts of theft under $5,000 while Coutourier faces 35 counts of theft under $5,000 and six counts of fraud under $5,000.

Munro has been charged with 29 counts of theft under $5,000 and two of fraud under $5,000.

Lawyers for the three accused sought an adjournment in Red Deer provincial court on Monday. They are to return to court on Wednesday, Sept. 12, to enter pleas.

Fields announced earlier this year that it was closing its stores.

Red Deer was among the stores that closed late in May.