MILWAUKEE — Randy Bechler, 66, was sentenced to probation after he robbed a Walmart twice and attempted a third robbery in November 2023, claiming he needed money to celebrate his birthday at a casino.
Bechler pleaded guilty to armed robbery and attempted robbery with a threat of force on February 6, 2025. Although originally charged with four felonies, two theft-related charges were dismissed but read in for sentencing purposes. Bechler will serve three years of probation, and the judge also ordered him to pay $1,865 in restitution to Walmart.
The series of robberies started on November 20, 2023, when Bechler approached a Walmart employee and demanded money, claiming to have a gun. The employee handed over cash, and the register was found to be short more than $1,700. Bechler returned to the same store five days later, successfully stealing $155 after again threatening an employee by motioning toward his waistband as if carrying a weapon.
Later that day, Bechler attempted a third robbery at the store but did not succeed. Afterward, he tried to rob an employee at Kohl’s, leading to a police investigation. Surveillance footage from both stores revealed the same man wearing a similar coat and baseball cap. Police later identified Bechler, and he was arrested on November 26, 2023.
During questioning, Bechler admitted to committing the robberies to obtain money for a birthday celebration at a casino, citing his crack cocaine addiction as the driving factor. He confessed to using some of the stolen money to buy drugs and identified himself on the surveillance videos.
Despite his guilty plea, Bechler was sentenced to probation instead of prison time. He will serve two years of extended supervision if he violates probation.
