Repeat beer thief sent to prison

Scott Stahelin with his attorney, David Glancy.

By Allison Scarbrough. OCP Editor.

LUDINGTON — A 45-year-old Ludington man was sentenced to 18 months to 10 years in prison for a felony of first-degree retail fraud after loading a shopping cart full of beer and stealing it from a local “big box store.”

Scott Michael Stahelin, of 5072 S. Lakeshore Dr., was arrested last August by the Hart post of the Michigan State Police. His prison runs consecutively to a parole violation conviction, said Judge Susan K. Sniegowski.

Stahelin’s criminal history shows a pattern of loading carts with beer and stealing the beer from large chain stores.

Spaniola said he was convicted in Mecosta County in a similar case, as well as a 2008 unarmed robbery case in Mason County that also involved stealing a large amount of beer.

“I did the crime and I’m very sorry,” Stahelin said.

Sentencing guidelines for his conviction are 12-36 months.

Sniegowski noted the the “similarity of the offenses” and his prior record which includes six felonies and seven misdemeanors.