A former Mrs. America was charged with theft by swindle after she allegedly made several fraudulent returns worth $5,000 to Macy's.

Jennifer Susan Kline, 50, of Wayzata, made her first appearance Tuesday in Hennepin County District Court.

Kline, who was crowned Mrs. America in 1989, also was a home shopping network host for Shop NBC/EVINE Live, according to a news release from the Hennepin County attorney's office.

According to the criminal complaint:

A Macy's asset protection detective contacted Edina police to report that Kline had purchased $2,884 worth of designer clothing from the Southdale store on Nov. 5.

The following day, Kline purchased another $2,906 worth of clothes from the same Macy's store. Several days later, on Nov. 11 and Nov. 30, Kline returned the clothing to the Macy's store at Mall of America. She was refunded $5,501.

The Macy's detective was notified about the returns and examined the clothes. He noticed that tags and labels from the new clothes Kline had purchased were switched and attached to the returned clothing. The returned clothes were also dirty and showed signs of having been worn.

Edina police searched Kline's home and found 24 items of clothing she had purchased on Nov. 5 and 6 — items she had allegedly returned to Mall of America.

Kline is not in custody. Her next court appearance is May 9. She could not be reached by telephone.