For stealing $31 worth of candy bars, this Louisiana man faces a possible sentence of 20 years to life in prison 'weird you said', even a judge had to question whether the sentence was "over the top."

Orleans Parish prosecutors chose to charge Jacobia Grimes, 34, under a statute that boosts the alleged candy theft to a felony. The law applies to people who have been convicted of "theft of goods" at least twice. Grimes has five prior theft convictions, making him a "quad" offender under the state's habitual-offender law.


Grimes, 34, pleaded not guilty Thursday, The New Orleans Advocate reported.

The possible sentence raised questions with Judge Franz Zibilich, who was overseeing Grimes' arraignment last week.

"Isn't this a little over the top?" Zibilich said. "Twenty years to life for a Snickers bar, or two or three or four."

Grimes' attorneys, Miles Swanson and Michael Kennedy, said his prior guilty pleas were for similar shoplifting attempts, including stealing from a Rite-Aid, Save-A-Center, Blockbuster Video, and Rouses grocery stores.

Swanson said all the thefts were for less than $500 worth of items. The last theft of socks and trousers from a Dollar General store got him a four-year sentence in 2010.

One of his lawyers said he could have been charged under a different statute than the habitual-offender law.
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