A 56 year-old Smithfield man with a lengthy criminal record was arrested after he reportedly shoplifted two beer and a bag of chicken tenders. Smithfield Police were called to Wal-Mart on N. Brightleaf Boulevard at 5:40pm Monday and found the suspect, Steven Douglas Morton of N. 7th Street in the parking lot.
Police said Morton left the store without paying for the beer and chicken valued at $9.05.
Morton has a lengthy criminal recording including multiple convictions for larceny, two convictions in 1985 for escape from jails in Harnett and Richmond counties, and a 1986 conviction for armed robbery in Rowan County.
Because of numerous prior larceny convictions, police charged Morton with habitual larceny, a felon. He was confined in the Johnston County Jail under a $10,000 bond. According to a police report, the beer was recovered but the chicken tenders were not.
