JACKSON, Tenn. — On Sunday, Jessica “Nikki” Conger was cited with misdemeanor shoplifting at Walmart on Emporium Drive, according to court documents.

Conger was in the self-checkout area just before 3 p.m. when documents said she failed to ring up 28 items, totaling over $84, according to the citation.

Jackson Mayor Scott Conger wanted to take the opportunity to stand up for his wife, who he said is wrongfully accused in an interview Tuesday.

When asked if his wife wants to speak on her behalf, Mayor Conger said, “You see, the thing is that I put my name on the ballot. I’m the one in public office. The only reason that this is a story is because of who I am.”

Mayor Conger expresses throughout the interview the incident is a misunderstanding.

“She spent $200 at Walmart, and whatever she was accused of, she even offered that whatever she was accused of, I don’t even want it, I’ll just pay for it. It’s not about stealing anything,” Conger said. “There were items there, four items I know that were not individually rung up and not individually rung up two times, three times, there were items that my daughter brought into the store, that were counted in that 28.”

Tuesday afternoon, Mayor Conger posted a statement on Facebook, reading in part, “we let our children add items to the cart to avoid a scene.”

Conger said it’s not usual for his children to put things into the cart without them knowing.

“There was never an attempt made to go to the door and leave with the buggy,” Conger said. “She actually went directly to the counter, to talk to the clerk.”

He also said his wife and daughter were escorted to a loss prevention room for questioning for hours.

On Facebook, Mayor Conger wrote, “my 3-year-old was a prisoner of Walmart.” He adds, “in the meantime, I hear Kroger grocery pickup is fantastic.”

“I think the biggest lesson that we learn from all this is if you don’t want to be detained for five hours, have their child use the restroom on themselves, miss their nap, miss their lunch, then shop local,” Conger said.

Jessica “Nikki” Conger must report to the Madison County Criminal Justice Complex for booking and processing by August 2.