REPEAT SHOPLIFTER RECEIVES 10-YEAR PRISON SENTENCE FOR GROCERY STORE CAPER

A Spartanburg man received a 10-year prison sentence today after he was found guilty of his third shoplifting offense in two years.

Brice Mills Jr., 47, pleaded guilty to shoplifting. His criminal record exposed him to the sentence imposed by Circuit Judge Mark Hayes. The penalty is the maximum sentence allowed under state law.

Mills stole two packages of ham steaks from the Sav-A-Lot Food Store, 560 S. Church St., on May 3, 2008. Mills concealed the packages of food in his pants. A store employee confronted Mills and a brief struggle ensued. Mills broke free from the employee and ran toward West Hampton Avenue where he was arrested moments later on shoplifting and assault charges. Mills had a box-cutter in his possession when officers confronted him.

Mills’ criminal history dates back to 1980 with multiple convictions for obtaining property by false pretenses, car theft, breaking and entering a vehicle and bad checks.