Repeated shoplifter “accidentally” leaves store with hoodie on
A repeat shoplifter is accused of walking out of a downtown Butler store wearing a hooded sweatshirt for which he had not paid.
But the defendant, Clayton C. Fredley, 27, of Butler, later told city police that what happened shortly before 2 p.m. May 11 at the Cycle Warehouse on South Main Street was an accident.
He claimed he was on the telephone with his public defender attorney at the time, police said, and forgot he was still wearing the $40 item when he walked out.
Fredley, whose criminal history shows five prior shoplifting convictions, was arraigned on a felony count of retail theft and placed in the Butler County Prison on $3,000 bail.
An employee recounted to police that a man came into the store, tried on the sweatshirt and “casually walked out” still wearing the item, according to court documents.
Fredley admitted being at the store, documents said, and told police that he “accidentally” walked out of the store with the sweatshirt.
His preliminary hearing is May 21.
Read more about this case in the Butler Eagle.
