MARION COUNTY — A 42-year-old Centralia man has been formally charged in Marion County court with being a felon and failing to return from furlough.

Muriel Givens failed to turn himself in to the Marion County Sheriff’s Office to begin serving a prison sentence on a charge of felony retail theft for stealing a pack of cigarettes from the Casey’s General Store in Centralia in 2017.

Givens pleaded guilty to the charge in February. Because of a prior theft conviction and other previous felony convictions, Givens was sentenced to 5-years in prison.

He was given credit for 150 days served in the Marion County Jail and was allowed a 3-day furlough to attend a funeral before having to turn himself in February 4 to start serving the prison sentence.

Givens failed to turn himself in and earlier this month was arrested in Centralia after allegedly stealing alcohol from the Schnuck’s grocery store.

Before being transferred to the Marion County Jail Wednesday, Givens pleaded guilty in Clinton County court to misdemeanor retail theft from Schnuck’s and was sentenced to 180 days in jail to start being served May 2.