A Bellefontaine man is facing charges after he convinced a 17-year-old girl to shoplift beer for him from Community Markets, 309 N. Main St., just after 4 p.m. Tuesday, May 13.
Officers of the Bellefontaine Police Department report Dallas Clifton McKinley, 49, of 300 N. Detroit St., first asked the 17-year-old for money before talking the teenager into stealing beer from Community Market and giving it to him. Employees had video of the theft – a single can of beer – from which police were able to identify the culprit.
Officers confronted the teen at her home and she admitted to shoplifting the beer and giving it to McKinley, noting that she felt bad for him after he recently received a beating.
Officers charged the teen with theft by deception and transported her to the Central Ohio Youth Center (COYC) in Marysville on the advice of her probation officer. While there, she completed a written statement about the incident, naming McKinley as the person to whom she gave the beer.
On their return from Marysville, officers found McKinley near the intersection of Main Street and Chillicothe Avenue. During questioning, he admitted to knowing the beer was stolen and drinking it. McKinley was arrested and charged with receiving stolen property and contributing to the delinquency of a minor before being transported to the Logan County Jail.