Former Kanabec County Sheriff Von Thompson faces a petty misdemeanor charge after allegedly attempting to shoplift a package of sausages from a Mora grocery store.

Court documents first filed late Monday afternoon indicate a store employee observed Thompson "put a package of sausages in his coat" and exit the store on Jan. 27.

The employee told local authorities that they followed Thompson into the parking lot, asked him to stop and confronted him about the $3.50 package of sausages.

Thompson allegedly pulled the merchandise from his pocket, handed it to the employee and said "sorry" and that he "was on the phone and forgot to pay."

A Mora police officer was called to the store, and Thompson was released without an arrest being made.

A Trespass and Civil Liability Notice was signed by the grocery store's manager revoking Thompson's privileges to enter property owned by the store and its parent company.

The petty misdemeanor he now faces is far from Thompson's only legal trouble.

The one time lawman currently faces four felony charges for allegedly swindling an elderly Mora man out of more than $190,000.

After a long string of delays, a trial is tentatively scheduled for April.

The trial is slated to take place in Anoka County. Rumors of a possible plea bargain have so far proved to be unfounded.

Thompson served four terms as Kanabec County sheriff, from 1983-1999.