Sussex Man Charged with Felony After Stealing Cookie

A 46-year-old Sussex man has been charged with a felony and faces up to six years in prison after authorities say he stole a large display cookie from a bakery in the Town of Delafield.

Donald J. Mertins was charged in Waukesha County Circuit Court Wednesday with one count of felony bail-jumping and one count of misdemeanor retail theft for allegedly taking the cookie from Molly’s Gluten Free Bakery, N47W28270 Lynndale Rd. If convicted, he faces up to six years and nine months in prison, and $20,000 in fines.

Stealing a cookie, of course, isn't the kind of crime typically results in hard time. However, at the time of his arrest, Mertins had been free on a $5,000 signature bond after being charged in February with identity theft.

Being arrested while out on bond resulted in the felony bail-jumping charge being filed against him.

According to the criminal complaint:

On March 9, Mertins, went to the bakery and asked for two premade pizza crusts and three packages of hamburger buns. The attendant went into the back of the bakery and when she returned Mertins told her he only wanted three hamburger buns, not three packages. After the bakery attendant was unable to find a partial bag of buns, Mertins purchased the two pizza crusts and left.

However, another clerk told the bakery attendant that he had seen Mertins grab a large display cookie from the bakery while she was in the back looking for his items and take it out of the store.