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VALPARAISO — A local postal worker faces two criminal charges based on accusations of stealing mail, including children's toys, gift cards and a calendar addressed to a not-for-profit group.

Janyce Sewell, 55, of Westville, was charged with a felony count of official misconduct and misdemeanor theft.

Sewell's activities were discovered following numerous missing parcel complaints from several rural mail routes originating from the Valparaiso post office, according to the charging information.

A special agent with the U.S. Postal Service was called in and said he observed Sewell failing to pass along mail to other carriers that was not hers to deliver.

The investigator said he tracked specific parcels that left the post office with Sewell on Oct. 13 and Oct. 20 and they were never delivered.

She was then set up with 10 $10 Target gift cards to be delivered Oct. 25, and three special agents observed Sewell fail to deliver the cards at the designated address, according to the charging information. The group reportedly watched as Sewell stopped at a gas station at the corner of Ind. 149 and U.S. 6 to discard the empty packing materials for the gifts cards and another parcel.

While denying the thefts at first, Sewell reportedly admitted to stealing toys and a necklace on Oct. 20, as well as the gift cards and a calendar destined for the not-for-profit group.

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