BUTLER TWP — A 13-time convicted shoplifter again finds himself in trouble with the law — for the same crime.

Police arrested Terry Williams, 51, of Butler after he was caught allegedly stealing $206 worth of merchandise at Walmart at the Butler Commons shopping plaza.

An employee initially nabbed Williams about 10:35 a.m. Monday after he was spotted putting store items in bags, according to court documents. The suspect was stopped after he tried to leave without paying for the 17 items.

District Judge Kevin O’Donnell arraigned the defendant on a felony count of retail theft. He was placed in the Butler County Prison on $10,000 bail.

Online court records showed that Williams has 13 prior convictions for retail theft dating back to the 1990s. His record encompasses four counties — Butler, Lawrence, Montgomery and Philadelphia.

Most recently, Williams was arrested in January for swiping a 7-inch computer tablet from the Verizon Wireless store at the Bon Aire Plaza in Butler Township.

He was initially charged with felony shoplifting but eventually pleaded to a summary charge of retail theft, according to records, and was ordered to pay $472.49 in restitution, fines and court costs.

In June 2011, Williams was sentenced to 11½ to 23 months in the county prison, followed by 12 months of probation and 50 hours of community service, for stealing clothing items at the Boscov’s store at the Clearview Mall in Center Township.

While normally a summary or misdemeanor offense, retail theft is upgraded to a third-degree felony regardless of the stolen property’s value when a defendant has at least two prior arrests for the same crime.

The felony charge carries a maximum penalty of 7 years in prison and a $15,000 fine.