CULLMAN, Ala. – A former Cullman Warehouse District business owner was indicted Sept. 17 by a Cullman County grand jury on one count of aggravated theft by deception and one count of first-degree theft of property. Johnann Cole Moore, 59, turned herself in at the Cullman County Detention Center last Thursday. She was released on a $10,000 property bond.
The charges Moore is facing stem from her business partnership with Kay Wiggins Shabel at the former MoMoShe boutique in downtown Cullman. Court documents name Shabel as the victim in both counts of the indictment.
Moore’s attorney, Champ Crocker, said in a statement to The Tribune, “This is a civil matter between Johnann and her former business partner, who sued two years ago, and who Johnann countersued over the breakup of MoMoShe. As surprising as this indictment is in the middle of a civil lawsuit, Johnann respects the process and she looks forward to clearing her name.”
Moore was also the owner of Book & Barrel Outfitters, which, according to its Facebook page, closed July 1, 2020.
Count 1 of the indictment alleges Moore did “on or about October 24, 2019, commit the crime of aggravated theft by deception by committing a theft of foreign or domestic funds, cash or cash equivalent, including but not limited to, stocks, bonds, investments, or retirement accounts in an amount exceeding ($200,000), being the funds of Kay Wiggins Shabel, and said funds were obtained by deception…”
Count 2 alleges Moore, “on or about November 7, 2014, through October 24, 2019, knowingly obtain by deception or exert unauthorized controlled over property, to-with: cash money and/or lawful greenback currency of the United States of America, the exact denomination and a further and better description of which is otherwise unknown to the Grand Jury, the property of Kay Wiggins Shabel, of the value of an amount exceeding ($2,500) with the intent to deprive the owner of said property…”
Each charge is a Class B felony and could result in a sentence of 2-20 years in prison and a fine of up to $30,000.
Court records show Moore is set to be arraigned Oct. 30, 2020.
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