Colorado Thieves Convicted of Felony Theft Despite Sale Price Defense

The defendants argued for a lesser charge, claiming the sale prices of stolen items reduced the total value below the felony threshold. The court rejected this argument, resulting in felony convictions and prison sentences.

Two men, Michael Green and Byron Bolden, were convicted of felony theft after stealing items from a Kohl's store in Colorado, with the total value of the stolen goods amounting to $2,094.98.
The defense argued for a lesser misdemeanor charge, citing that some of the stolen items were on sale, which would bring the total value under the $2,000 threshold for felony theft in Colorado.
The district attorney's office rejected this argument, stating that sales and discounts only apply to paying customers.
Green was sentenced to 15 months in prison, while Bolden received a 90-day jail sentence with credit for time served as a condition of 18 months probation.
The case has sparked discussion about the impact of retail theft on businesses and the community, with the district attorney emphasizing that retail theft is not a 'victimless' crime.