DOUGLAS COUNTY —A Kansas man is going to prison for a crime during a shopping trip to Walmart.
Last week, a judge sentenced Maurice Anthony Mahan, 53, of Lawrence, to 16 months in the Kansas Department of Corrections for making a criminal threat, according to Douglas County District Attorney Suzanne Valdez.
In April a jury found him guilty. The charges stemmed from an incident that occurred on June 21, 2023, when Mahan placed items in a suitcase while at the Walmart Superstore, located at 3300 Iowa Street and left the store without paying for the items.
When a store employee told Mahan to stop, Mahan threatened to shoot the employee before walking away. Lawrence police officers arrested Mahan a short time later.
Mahan also was sentenced to 12 months of post-release supervision by Judge Amy Hanley.
Sentencing for a related misdemeanor theft conviction will be decided at a later date.
“My priority remains to ensure the safety and well-being of everyone in our community,” District Attorney Valdez said. “This kind of behavior will not be tolerated.”