Two suspected shoplifters are accused of swiping an assortment of snacks and other food items at a downtown Butler store.

Benjamin L. Lechien, 34, of Summit Township, one of the defendants, is facing a pair of felonies for the alleged Sunday night caper at the Dollar General store on North Main Street.

Police said the other defendant, Douglas C. Fudoli, 51, of Butler Township, also was caught with several items of drug contraband.

Officers were called to the store for a retail theft in progress and found the suspects, police said. Fudoli had opened merchandise sticking out of the pocket of his hooded sweatshirt, according to court documents.

Employees already had recovered two boxes of items that Lechien is suspected of having opened. The defendants are suspected of taking Rice Krispies Treats, Rice-A-Roni, Combos, coffee cakes, toaster pastries and muffins.

The merchandise was valued at $11.25.

A search of Fudoli, police said, also turned up multiple capped syringes, a crack pipe, a spoon with residue and a shoe lace that had been turned into a tourniquet.

Police noted in their criminal complaint that Lechien has two prior shoplifting convictions.

Normally a summary or misdemeanor offense, retail theft in Pennsylvania is upgraded to a third-degree felony regardless of the stolen property's value when a defendant has at least two prior convictions for the same crime.

District Judge Wayne Seibel arraigned Lechien on felony counts of retail theft and conspiracy to commit retail theft. Fudoli was arraigned on charges of retail theft, conspiracy and possession of drug paraphernalia, all misdemeanors.

The defendants are free on $2,500 unsecured bail each.