Genesee County Judge’s Unique Sentence For Shoplifters Overturned

A Genesee County judge's sentence for shoplifters at Walmart in Grand Blanc Township has been overruled.

In February 2025, Genesee County District Court Judge Jeffrey Clothier sentenced 48 shoplifters to wash cars outside of the Walmart from which they stole.

The plan was for the convicted shoplifters to wash vehicles in the Walmart parking lot on Saginaw Road. Plans have now been changed.

Genesee County District Court Chief Judge, William H. Crawford II canceled the car wash because of safety concerns.

According to CBS News, Walmart headquarters did not want the car wash to happen on store property in Grand Blanc Township.

However, this may not be the end of this quite yet. ABC 12 reports that the car washes may still happen if the proper procedures are followed.

When I first wrote about Judge Clothier's car wash sentence, the majority of the comments I read were in favor of the sentence. Most of us were not thinking about the liability that went along with it.

What are your thoughts? Did you agree with Judge Clothier's original sentence for the shoplifters? Or do you think it is a form of public shaming?

I will keep you posted if a car wash eventually happens at another location. For now, my guess is it most likely will not.

You can see a video below of Judge Clothier issuing the controversial sentence in February 2025.