CHARLESTON, Ill. (WCIA) — A man with an extensive criminal history has been arrested again for retail theft in Charleston, according to the Charleston Police Department.
On Thursday, Nov. 6, officers responded to the 1300 block of E. Street after a store employee reported that 39-year-old Christopher M. Gast had taken items without paying.
Officers found Gast in the nearby parking lot with the stolen items. He admitted to the theft and was taken into custody without incident for processing at the Charleston Police Department.
Authorities note that Gast has a criminal record with 21 arrests and 29 convictions. His previous arrest was in Mattoon on Jan. 14 for criminal damage to government property.
Gast was also on pretrial release for a separate case and has failed to appear in court multiple times. Charleston Police stated, “Gast has shown a continued trend of failing to appear in court, made multiple statements about reoffending against an establishment over money, and has demonstrated a complete lack of understanding or desire to adhere to stipulations of pre-trial release.”
Following his latest arrest, Gast was taken to the Coles County Sheriff’s Office pending a court appearance.
