A man who allegedy stole a one liter bottle of water from the 7-Eleven convenience store at 1100 Main St., Hellertown, and then later allegedly entered his mother’s home in the borough’s Mountainview section without permission is in Northampton County Prison in lieu of $20,000 bail, according to court records.
Patrick Sean Butler, 32, who is listed as homeless in court records, allegedly entered the store shortly before 10 p.m. March 20, took a bottle of water off a shelf, drank some of it and then left without paying for it, according to a criminal complaint filed by Ofc. John Donato at the Northampton County District Court in Lower Saucon Township.
Police were called to the store by a 7-Eleven employee who reported witnessing the alleged theft, according to the complaint.
“Butler verbally admitted…that he was at 7-11 and drank from a bottle, then fled without paying for it,” Donato reported in his complaint.
“(Butler) has at least two prior retail thefts, making this his third offense,” Donato added.
Although the retail value of the bottled water is probably less than $2, because this is a third offense Butler has been charged with a third degree felony.
In a separate incident police say occurred about an hour after the alleged theft, police say Butler went to his mother’s home in the 800 block of Maple Road, Hellertown–which he has been warned to stay away from–entered through a closed door and then refused to leave despite being told “several times” to do so, Donato said in a separate complaint.
Police said Butler has had at least one prior arrest for trespassing, and admitted to knowing he was not supposed to be in the house. He is charged with third-degree felony criminal trespassing.
A preliminary hearing in Butler’s cases is scheduled for Tuesday, March 27 at 2 p.m. before District Judge Alan Mege, according to court records.
Obviously this guy has problems, however a felony conviction for taking a bottle of water does nothing to help him. Now we will have another young man, in prision on a felony charge, costing us, the taxpayers how much everyday? For what, a bottle of water and wanting to go someplace to get warm. Not knowing the family situation, it is hard to say, but it seems as though guy may need to be shown some of the Lords kindness and mercy, especially at this the most Holliest of weeks in the Catholic Church.