Two Ashland University Swimmers Charged with Felonies for Walmart Thefts, Plead Not Guilty

A pair of freshman swimmers at Ashland University, an NCAA Division II school in Ashland, Ohio, have been charged with felonies for theft, according to Ashland County Court documents.

Emily O’Brien and Nina Nephew, both 18, allegedly stole more than $1,100 in merchandise from a local Walmart.

Ashland County prosecutor Chris Tunnell says that Walmart security identified them in the store on January 7 with $146 in merchandise. He says that three days earlier, the store’s loss prevention department determined that they stole “north of $1,100” in merchandise, and then admitted it to officers on January 7th.

In Ohio, theft is a felony if the value of the property stolen is more than $1,000. Both women have been charged with fifth-degree felonies.

He says that the two admitted to stealing merchandise on previous occasions and that they were doing it because their friends had also stolen from the store without being caught.

The allegedly stolen merchandise was recovered from O’Brien’s and Nephew’s dorm rooms by the Ashland Police Department.

Both women pleaded not guilty to the charges. Bond was set at $3,000 and both were bailed out of jail. As part of the bond conditions, they were directed not to have any contact with each other or with Ashland Walmart.

According to Tunnell, the university is investigating which other friends also stole from the Walmart.

Ashland University declined to comment on the charges.

Ashland University’s swim team has only one second semester dual meet scheduled, a January 19 showdown with Mount Union on the Eagles’ senior day.

The team, including O’Brien and Nephew, last raced at the mid-season Miami University Invite. There, O’Brien was 24th in the 1650 free in 19:15.04 and 40th in the 500 free in 5:43.23, while Nephew finished 25th in the 1650 free in 19:20.22 and 37th in the 500 in 5:38.08.

They are the team’s leaders in the 1650 free this season, and two of only three on the roster who have raced it.

The Ashland men finished 2nd out of 9 teams and the Ashland women 3rd out of 10 teams at the 2023 Great Midwest Athletic Conference Championships last season.

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Someone25
9 months ago

Nina was on my swim team last year, she was the “cool” older kids and we all looked up to them cause they were so nice. I can’t believe she did this. Such a stupid thing to do.

Wet Bandits
9 months ago

HC quit right before start of season….hear great things about the assistant forced into a position he didn’t want with no help whatsoever, but damn kids

Swim fan
9 months ago

Ashland deserves better!

I_said_it
Reply to  Swim fan
9 months ago

I agree

swimws
Reply to  Swim fan
9 months ago

It does, the AD also had a recommendation for a better coach than what they have now, but decided to not act on it.

Masters swammer
9 months ago

If you had to pick the swimmer on your team (by event specialty) that was most likely to commit a felony, where would the 1650-freestyler have landed? (On all of my teams, pretty damned close to the bottom of the list 😂. I always felt like the sprinters had more time to get in trouble.)

DrFly
9 months ago

Ashland deserves better than these 2 girls and this publicity!

Stallion06
9 months ago

I know it’s wrong to assume race here…..

But these guys have got to be a couple of freestylers

Last edited 9 months ago by Stallion06
Steve Nolan
Reply to  Stallion06
9 months ago

comment image

Jeffswimfast
9 months ago

Allegedly

Henry
9 months ago

If they were black or trans, this story would probably make it to Fox News.

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Braden Keith

Braden Keith is the Editor-in-Chief and a co-founder/co-owner of SwimSwam.com. He first got his feet wet by building The Swimmers' Circle beginning in January 2010, and now comes to SwimSwam to use that experience and help build a new leader in the sport of swimming. Aside from his life on the InterWet, …

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