Cold Medicine Not a Defense for Shoplifting, Jury Decides
Over-the-counter cold medication may make you drowsy, but it can’t be blamed for shoplifting, a Van Nuys Municipal Court jury has ruled.
Jeffrey Brian Asch, 24, of North Hollywood was convicted of petty theft for stealing 10 compact discs worth $173.03 from Tower Records in Sherman Oaks on March 8, prosecutors said Tuesday.
After 3 1/2 hours of deliberations, a Van Nuys Municipal Court jury disregarded Asch’s testimony that three Co-Advil tablets made him “spacey” and he did not know what he was doing when he left the store without paying for the merchandise.
Municipal Judge Alice Altoon sentenced Asch on Monday to 18 months probation and fined him $648 for the misdemeanor conviction.
Officials with the city attorney’s office said Van Nuys juries have recently rejected claims by drunk driving defendants that they became inadvertently intoxicated after consuming NyQuil cold medicine and Jell-O dessert.
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