$1 felony for not paying a cup of soda at McDonald's sounds ridiculous right?

So here’s the other side of the story: Mark Abaire claimed he wanted water but he was presented with a wide variety of beverages so he chose a drink that was going to cost him a little cash: the $1 soda. Then he went to the table outside to drink the soda but the manager approached him and asked him to pay $1. He refused to pay.

The manager called the police. They tossed the 52-year-old man in jail and charged him with $1 felony for the petty crime he committed.

Abaire is now facing years of jail time and/or a fine of thousand dollars.

You might be thinking, felony for not paying $1, is too much.

This is because Abaire had a couple of petty theft convictions already in the past and hitting the “three strikes” law in Florida aggravates the crime.

Mike Adams, the owner of McDonald’s in East Naples, issued the following statement:

“I take these matters seriously. As a local business owner, I have a responsibility to take appropriate steps to protect my business and keep my customers and employees safe.”

He also pointed out that Abaire was issued a trespass warning at the same McDonald’s in 2008.

The third-degree felony in Florida has a punishment of 5 years maximum in prison and a $5,000 fine. And it’s because of the $1 soda that he did not want to pay.

Photo Credit: McDonald’s

Check out this video about the $1 soda at McDonald’s: