BLOOMINGTON, Ill. —  A 23-year-old Bloomington hotel employee accused of letting a number of people stay in rooms without paying has told police she let them stay only because some of them were homeless.

Jeannie M. E. Roberts of rural Wapella was charged Saturday with theft of labor, services or property.

The general manager of the Clarion Hotel called police after discovering that five rooms were being used even though they were not checked out.

Some of the unpaid guests were found in a hot tub, and police said the five rooms had been occupied by about 20 people.

Police said the unpaid guests may have damaged four closet doors, three microwaves and a mini refrigerator. They reportedly also drank three bottles of liquor.