Thieves Make Argument For Lower Charges Because Of Sale Price, Coupons

Two men convicted of felony theft for stealing over $2,000 worth of merchandise from a Kohl's store were in court this week, making the case that their charges should be lower because they had coupons, according to the 18th Judicial District in Colorado.

Police say 50-year-old Michael Green and 37-year-old Byron Bolden were formally sentenced this month after being convicted of retail theft at a Kohl's store this year, according to Tuesday news release from the Judicial District.

The two men were known as the "KitchenAid Mixer Crew”, because they were known to be thieves of the high-end KitchenAid Stand Mixers, but of course their shoplifting carried on to name brand shoes and clothing.

At the trial, the duo's defense attorneys would suggest to a jury that their clients should only face a lesser misdemeanor charge rather than a felony charge because the items they sold were being offered "On sale."

In Colorado, theft under $2,000 is a misdemeanor offense. However, the documented value of the items stolen in the theft totaled to $2,094.98, which makes the theft a felony.

The two men were asking the jury to take into account the Kohl's coupons and discounts which would more than bring the theft case down to a misdemeanor. However, prosecutors argued that sales and discounts are for paying customers.

“Just because an item is ‘on sale’ doesn’t mean it’s free to steal, and these defendants now get to think about this lesson in jail and prison,” District Attorney John Kellner said in the news release. “Retailers in our community are fed up with theft and my office will actively prosecute these offenders.”

Green was sentenced to 15 months in prison. Bolden was sentenced to 90 days in jail with credit for time served as a condition of 18 months of probation.

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