A Schuylkill County man was jailed Monday and faces a felony theft charge after police say he stole a gallon of Guers Orange Drink and some candy from a Saint Clair gas station last month.
Jeremy Hess, 40, of Orwigsburg, was charged by police in Saint Clair with a third-degree felony count of retail theft following the alleged incident at the Sunoco station on S. Second St.
According to police, an officer responded to the store at 9:50 a.m. on Aug. 2, after a store owner reported a retail theft that occurred earlier that morning. The owner told police that staff alerted him after a man took items from the store without paying at around 1 a.m.
Police reviewed store surveillance footage, which showed a man identified by investigators as Hess entering the store shortly after 1 a.m. Video showed Hess picking up a gallon of Guers Orange Drink from a cooler and placing two candy items into his right pocket, police said.
Hess then walked to the back of the store to play a Skill game and left a few minutes later without paying for the merchandise. When a store employee tried to speak with Hess, he fled on foot, running east on Lawton St., according to police.
The total value of the stolen items is $9.67, the store reported.
Police say that a background check revealed this to be Hess’ fourth potential retail theft offense, thus making it a felony.
Hess was arraigned Tuesday afternoon before Magisterial District Judge Edward Lewis. Lewis set bail at 10% of $5,000. Hess was sent to Schuylkill County Prison after failing to post bail.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Oct. 20.
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