Michigan couch thief sentenced to 5-22 years

GRAND RAPIDS (AP) - A Kent County judge has sentenced a man to five to 22 years in prison for stealing what police say is more than $41,000 worth of items from home furnishing stores. The Grand Rapids Press reports 41-year-old Michael McClerin was sentenced last Thursday. He pleaded guilty in June to receiving and concealing stolen property worth over $20,000. He also pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm. Investigators say McClerin stole a leather couch worth more than $6,500 from Gorman's Home Furnishings Store on March 3. They say he returned six days later to steal the matching cushions and a rug. Investigators later discovered a storage unit where they say McClerin put stolen items. They haven't recovered the couch or rug. McClerin has to pay $1,000 in restitution. Published: Mon, Aug 04, 2014