Locker Room Thief Sentenced to Twenty Years

Prosecutors in DA Charme Allen’s Career Gang Unit obtained multiple convictions against a career offender whose latest crimes targeted gym locker rooms. Mary Elizabeth Wolfenbarger, 42, was convicted of six counts of Theft, two counts of Burglary of a Vehicle, two counts of Identity Theft, and one count of Computer Fraud. Judge Steve Sword sentenced Wolfenbarger to serve twenty years in prison as a Career Offender.

In a plea agreement announced to the Court, Assistant District Attorney TaKisha Fitzgerald explained that between the end of May and early June, 2019, Wolfenbarger went to several fitness centers in Knoxville, including the YMCA on Northshore Drive, the Planet Fitness on Kingston Pike, the National Fitness Center on Walbrook Drive, and the Gold’s Gym on Kingston Pike. At each of these locations, Wolfenbarger entered the locker room and took car keys, purses, credit cards, wallets, and other items from unlocked lockers. In some instances, Wolfenbarger was able to use the stolen car keys to enter the victim’s car in the parking lot and steal more items. Also, Wolfenbarger used the victims’ credit and debit cards at various locations before being identified by officers of both the Knox County Sheriff’s Office and the Knoxville Police Department.

“There are many criminals out there who take advantage of people at the places where they feel safe,” said DA Charme Allen.”The best thing you can do to protect yourself from thieves is to secure your valuables.”

Wolfenbarger has thirty-eight prior felony convictions for property offenses out of Anderson, Knox, and Loudon Counties.

If you have any questions, please contact Sean McDermott at 865-215-2515 or Sean.McDermott@knoxcounty.org. For more information about the District Attorney’s Office, visit our website at dag.knoxcountytn.gov and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.