A Morristown woman who stole alcohol from Bottle King over five months pleaded guilty in Livingston Municipal Court, while a Newark man faces charges for concealing nearly $550 in merchandise at DSW.

Elaine Earlywine, 65, admitted to stealing approximately $165.92 in alcohol from the Livingston Bottle King between March and July 2026, returning multiple times over that stretch, according to court records reported by NJ Hills. She pleaded guilty to an amended disorderly persons offense, a downgraded charge from the original shoplifting count.

The court fined Earlywine $250 plus $33 in court costs and ordered her to pay $205 in restitution to Bottle King.

The total financial penalty: $488.

Under New Jersey law, shoplifting merchandise valued under $200 is classified as a disorderly persons offense, which is handled at the municipal level. Earlywine's aggregated theft total of approximately $165.92 kept the case in that tier despite the repeated visits.

In a separate case, Melvin Ellison, 32, of Newark, was charged with shoplifting from DSW on April 2. Court officials said Ellison concealed men's shoes and socks inside a white Marshall's bag, with a combined value of approximately $549. That dollar amount exceeds the $500 threshold for a third-degree crime under New Jersey's shoplifting statute, placing it above the level typically resolved in municipal court.

The outcome of Ellison's case has not been confirmed in available court records.

Livingston Municipal Court has handled a string of retail theft cases in recent months, including incidents at Nordstrom Rack and Kings Supermarket in July 2026. Residents who witness shoplifting or other retail crimes can contact the Livingston Police Department.