Lake Hopatcong Man Sentenced to 6 Months for Shoplifting

A Lake Hopatcong man has been sentenced to six months in jail and must pay nearly $2,000 in restitution, for shoplifting from a Hampton Township Wal-Mart and returning for a second attempt.

Anthony D. Bellina, 25, pleaded guilty to two counts of third-degree shoplifting in March, and was sentenced May 16, according to an announcement from Sussex County Prosecutor David J. Weaver. He was sentenced to four years drug court probation, 180 days county jail, $280 in fines, 10 days of community service and $1,968.97 in restitution.

Bellina admitted that he and a co-defendant took numerous items from the Wal-Mart on Feb. 1, then returned to the Wal-Mart on Feb. 17. But during that later incident, they were apprehended before they could leave the store with the merchandise in their shopping carts, according to Weaver.