Discounted Theft: Should Stolen Goods on Sale Lead to Softer Punishments?

Two men convicted of felony theft after stealing from a Kohl's store in Colorado argued for reduced charges, claiming that the stolen items were on sale. The defense attorneys cited discounts and coupons to bring the value of the stolen items below the felony theft threshold of $2,000. However, their argument failed, and both men received felony convictions. One was sentenced to 15 months in prison, while the other received 90 days in jail with credit for time served and 18 months probation. The district attorney emphasized that theft, even if items are on sale, is not acceptable, and retailers are increasingly affected by rising retail theft.