Florida man charged with felony for stealing a cup of soda from McDonalds, police say

(CBS/AP) NAPLES, Fla. - Police say a Naples man remains jailed on felony charges after leaving a McDonald's restaurant without paying for a cup of soda.

The Naples Daily News reports that after filling a courtesy cup with soda Thursday at the McDonald's soda fountain, Mark Abaire, 52, was arrested by police and now faces a felony thrift charge.

According to a manager, Abaire entered the store and asked for a glass of water around 10 p.m. Although the employee told him the cup was for water, Abaire filled it with soda from the fountain machine and sat outside the restaurant, an arrest report states.

Abaire allegedly had a conversation with the manager and declined to pay for the soda, valued at $1. He reportedly refused to leave the premises and cursed at the manager.

The charge is petty theft, but it was increased to a felony because Abaire has previous petty theft convictions. In Florida, a third-degree felony can result in a sentence of up to five years and a $5,000 fine.

The newspaper reports Abaire faces additional misdemeanor counts of trespassing and disorderly intoxication.

On Saturday, he remained in the Collier County jail with bond set at $6,500.