A 52-year-old St. Joseph woman is charged with robbery after allegedly trying to bite her way out of a shoplifting charge.

Catherine Wells is due in court Tuesday morning to face one count of Second Degree Robbery.  In court documents, police say Wells was confronted outside the JC Penney Store in the East Hills Shopping Center last Wednesday, after allegedly concealing unpaid items of clothing.

The woman allegedly tried to bite the store’s loss-prevention officer and flee the scene, according to court documents.

Police said in a court affidavit that Wells has multiple arrests for failure to appear. Online court records show she was placed on probation on theft and drug charges dating back to 2012. A judge set bail in the biting case at $10,000 ($1,000 cash plus a $9,000 surety bond).

Second degree robbery is a Class-B felony.  Upon conviction it carries a range of possible prison sentences from five to fifteen years.

A first appearance is scheduled Tuesday morning before Buchanan County Associate Judge Rebecca Spencer.