He reportedly took bank bags from register

An Albert Lea man pleaded guilty Wednesday in Freeborn County District Court in connection with March’s theft of $1,400 in pull tab money from The Nasty Habit.

Coselle Lonnell Mays, 37, pleaded guilty to one count of  felony theft.

According to court documents, officers were dispatched to The Nasty Habit at about 10 p.m. March 27 on a theft report.

A bartender reported that a man had come behind the bar and taken two green bank bags from inside the register. One reportedly contained money from selling pull tabs and the other reportedly contained pull tab payout receipts.

A police sergeant reviewed video surveillance that showed a suspect later identified as Mays walk behind the bar, take something behind the register and leave the bar.

Mays was found at an Albert Lea gas station and was allegedly in possession of 29 $10 bills and 10 $20 bills for a total of $490.

The bank bags were reportedly never found, according to police.

Sentencing is scheduled for Aug.18.

Felony theft carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $10,000 fine.