A man faces a felony retail theft charge after police say he stole more than $100 worth of meat from a Schuylkill County food stand while driving with a suspended license last June.
Anthony Smeal, 39, of Coal Township, was charged this week with a felony count of retail theft, misdemeanor counts of theft by unlawful taking and receiving stolen property, and a summary offense of driving while his license was suspended for a DUI. Magisterial District Judge Christian Lengel set Smeal’s bail at $5,000 at his arraignment on Thursday.
State Police say they responded to a reported theft at the Red Hill Harvest food stand on Vista Rd. in Eldred Township late in the morning on June 2 last year. The victim told police two men arrived at the stand in a red GMC SUV shortly before 6:30 that morning.
According to police, the men entered the stand and took eight packs of ground beef and two packs of steaks, and left without paying. The total value of the items was $114.10.
Investigators determined Smeal was operating the vehicle during the incident. Police say Smeal’s driving privileges were suspended for a prior DUI at the time of the theft.
The retail theft charge was graded as a third-degree felony because Smeal has previously pleaded guilty to two separate retail theft charges.
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