$1 felony is being charged to a 52-year-old man in Florida for taking a cup of soda without paying.
According to Naples News, a man named Mark Abaire is facing a $1 felony charge after he used a courtesy cup and filled it with soda.
The incident happened in McDonald’s East Naples on Thursday where the local manager told the police that Abaire walked out the restaurant without paying for the cup of soda. Abaire was told by an employee that the courtesy cup that he took was only for water, however, he filled it with soda instead and went to sit outside.
The local manager asked him to pay $1 for the cup of soda but Abaire refused and cursed at him.
The authorities arrested the 52-year-old man and charged him with $1 felony, instead of just petty theft. This is because Abaire had a couple of petty theft convictions already in the past and hitting the “three strikes” law in Florida aggravates the crime.
Mike Adams, the owner of McDonald’s in East Naples, issued the following statement:
“I take these matters seriously. As a local business owner, I have a responsibility to take appropriate steps to protect my business and keep my customers and employees safe.”
He also pointed out that Abaire was issued a trespass warning at the same McDonald’s in 2008.
The third-degree felony in Florida has a punishment of 5 years maximum in prison and a $5,000 fine. And it’s because of the $1 soda that he did not want to pay.
Photo Credit: Collier County Sheriff
$1 Felony Happened at McDonald’s in East Naples originally appeared on Starmometer on April 25, 2012.