Md. Man Accused Of Not Paying For Wal-Mart Items

ELDERSBURG, Md. (AP) -- A Maryland man is being accused of not paying for approximately $30,000 in Wal-Mart goods over several years, telling a cashier that he would hurt her family if she didn't give him items for free.

The Carroll County Times reports Franklin Rheubottom, 71, of Sykesville was arrested Tuesday. Court documents say the cashier, 55-year-old Teresa Diane Long, reported Rheubottom would come to her cash register at a Wal-Mart in Eldersburg, and she wouldn't scan all of his items.

Long has not been charged.

Rheubottom said in a telephone interview Thursday with The Associated Press that he didn't steal from the store or threaten the cashier. He said if items weren't scanned he didn't know anything about it. Rheubottom said he planned to hire a lawyer and fight the charges.

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