By ROBIN SHANNON

L’Observateur

LAPLACE – A felon with a sweet tooth who allegedly stole a shipment of Worlds Finest Chocolate while posing as a representative for a LaPlace church was arrested Thursday in Gramercy, according to a release from the St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff’s Office.

Jason Dumas, 31, 603 Cardwell St., Gonzales, was booked just before 11 a.m. Thursday and charged with theft of more than $500, contempt of court and being a fugitive from another agency. He was held at the Sherman Walker Correctional Facility in LaPlace on a $20,404 bond.

Capt. Dane Clement, public information officer for the Sheriff’s Office, said Dumas allegedly ordered 200 cases of chocolate from World’s Finest while posing as a representative of Celebration Church. The candy was delivered to the church, located at 3400 U.S. Highway 51, on Oct. 27, 2009, and two men proceeded to load the candy into two vehicles in the church parking lot.

Clement said church officials reported the incident to the Sheriff’s Office in February after receiving a bill of $9,020 for the chocolate. Clement said when the church inquired about the bill, the company said the candy was ordered by someone claiming to be one of the church’s deacons. The company said Dumas’ name was one listed on the order form.

Clement said deputies got a tip about the suspect’s whereabouts and tracked Dumas down at a home in Gonzales. He was arrested on a judicial warrant for his role in the theft and for being a fugitive from St. John Parish. Clement said as of this time, none of the chocolate has been recovered.

St. John detectives believe additional arrests are forthcoming pending the outcome of the investigation.