Spokane baby sitter pleads not guilty to burglary, theft charges

A baby sitter implicated in a series of convenience store burglaries pleaded not guilty Wednesday and was given a trial date of Sept. 20.

Samantha A. Wynne, 20, was arraigned in Spokane County Superior Court on eight counts of burglary, seven counts of theft, eight counts of malicious mischief and three counts of stealing a car. She’s charged along with 29-year-old Michael L. Yamaguchi and 19-year-old Stephen Victor in connection to a series of reported break-ins at local gas stations and convenience stores between November and February.

Wynne told police that she baby-sat Yamaguchi’s son during the burglaries and she split the proceeds with him and Victor.

Detectives said in court records that the trio made spare keys while test-driving vehicles and then returned at night to steal the cars.