FL Man Jailed After Drinking Soda Without Paying

NAPLES, Fla. (AP) _ Authorities say a Naples man remains jailed on felony charges after leaving a McDonald’s restaurant without paying for a cup of soda.

Deputies arrested 52-year-old Mark Abaire last week after the restaurant manager told them he had asked for a cup of water and then filled it with soda from the fountain machine.

The Naples Daily News (http://bit.ly/HZOQ2Q ) reports Abaire was sitting outside the restaurant when the manager asked him to pay a dollar for the soda.

Abaire refused, then would not leave the premises.

Police arrived and arrested him.

The charge is petty theft, but it was increased to a felony because Abaire has previous petty theft convictions.

In Florida, a third-degree felony can result in a sentence of up to five years and a $5,000 fine.
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