LAPLACE — A Reserve man’s $9 snatch and theft in 2015 led to a guilty plea and six months probation this month.

Edward Dennis, 25, pleaded guilty May 15 to theft less than $750. According to the St. John the Baptist Parish Clerk of Court’s Office, Dennis’ six-months jail sentence was suspended in lieu of two years of active probation and $669.50 in fines.

District Attorney Bridget A. Dinvaut said Dennis is alleged to have had psychological problems at the time of his arrest that were not being treated.

“This is one of these cases where we had sanity commission hearings to determine his competency,” Dinvaut said. “In fact, one doctor in the commission did find him not to be competent to stand trial. As a result of that, that hinders the prosecution because we had two doctors saying ‘yes’ and one doctor saying ‘no.’”

Dinvaut said the victim was consulted and approved the plea reduction. According to Dinvaut, Dennis must comply with medical treatment throughout his probation.

Dennis was arrested Jan. 29, 2015, after authorities said he stole $9 from a woman standing at a sales counter waiting to pay for her purchase.

St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff’s Office deputies said a female victim at River Bend Truck Stop on Airline Highway in Reserve said she was at the sales counter waiting to pay for her purchase with $9 and a receipt from another store in her hand.

She said a man grabbed the cash and receipt from her hand and ran out the store towards Airline Highway.

“A deputy saw a man matching the description of the offender walking on Airline Highway near Northwest 3rd Street,” a Sheriff’s Office press release said. “When the deputy approached the man, he fled.”

After a short pursuit, the deputy detained the subject and found he was in possession of $9 and a cash receipt from another store.

Deputies identified the man as Dennis, who was charged with simple robbery and illegal possession of stolen things.