Doughnut theft could land man in prison

Doughnut theft could land man in prison

By Felix Lowe
Last Updated: 2:31am BST 09/10/2007

It's a story that would make Homer Simpson shudder: one hungry man's unlawful desire for a doughnut may prove to be the most costliest snack ever.

In an unbelievable episode which many may feel highlights the absurdities of the American legal system, a man who stole a paltry doughnut today faces up to 30 years in jail.

Scott Masters, 41, is accused of surreptitiously putting the sweet, circular pastry into his sweatshirt without paying, then pushing away a female store worker who tried to stop him fleeing the store in Farmington, Minnesota.

US authorities said the push was being treated as a minor assault, which transforms a simple shoplifting charge into the more serious demeanour of strong-arm robbery, an offence which fetches a potential prison term of five to 15 years.

And as Mr Masters already has a criminal record, prosecutors are entitled to double his sentence, meaning a maximum 30-year stint behind bars is a possibility, however ridiculous it may seem.

Mr Masters admits he tried to steal the doughnut but denies having assaulted the clerk.

Speaking from jail, he told the St Louis Post-Dispatch: "Strong-arm robbery? Over a doughnut? That's impossible. There's no way I would've pushed a woman over a doughnut."

To make matters worse, Mr Masters said he did not even get the chance to savour the snack - he threw it away as he fled the scene.

Farmington Police Chief Rick Baker said state law treats the shoplifting and assault as forcibly stealing property - and the amount of force and value of the property does not matter.

"It's not the doughnut," Mr Baker said. "It's the assault."