Fla. Man Arrested After Using Water Cup To Drink Soda
Police Say Man Refused To Pay $1 For Soda
(Photo courtesy: wptv.com)
Posted: 04/23/2012
Last Updated:
393 days ago
A Florida man faces a felony charge after he was accused of walking out of the McDonalds in East Naples without paying for a cup of soda.After filling a courtesy cup with soda Thursday at the McDonalds soda fountain and then leaving the restaurant, Mark Abaire, 52, was arrested by Collier deputies and now faces a felony theft charge, a sheriffs report shows.A manager told sheriffs deputies that Abaire entered the store and asked for a glass of water around 10 p.m. Although the employee told him the cup was for water, Abaire filled it with soda at a fountain machine and sat outside the restaurant, according to an arrest report.During a conversation with the manager, Abaire declined to pay for the soda, valued at $1, refused to leave the premises, and cursed at the manager, the report stated.While his charge is petty theft, because of previous petty theft convictions, the charge for drinking the unpaid-for soda was increased from a misdemeanor to a felony, the arrest report shows. In Florida, a third-degree felony can result in a sentence of up to 5 years in prison and a $5,000 fine.Abaire faces additional misdemeanor counts of trespassing and disorderly intoxication. On Saturday, he remained in the Collier County jail with bond set at $6,500.
Copyright Report a typo or inaccuracyIf you have a news tip or a follow-up to this story, e-mail us.Copyright 2012 by TheDenverChannel.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.