Man faces federal felony charges for $210 mail theft

A Chamberlain teen accused by authorities of opening a phone bill to steal a $210 money order is facing federal felony charges of post office burglary.

James Short Bear, 19, was indicted Tuesday on three counts: Burglary of a U.S. Post Office, theft of mail and theft of a postal money order.

The indictment alleges that Short Bear broke into the Chamberlain post office, opened a letter addressed to AT&T and took the $210 money order between March 2 and 3.

Burglarizing a post office, stealing mail and stealing a money order are each separate charges carry fines and up to five years in federal prison.

Under South Dakota state law, the theft of $400 or less is a class two misdemeanor punishable by a fine or up to 30 days in jail.

Short Bear’s initial appearance date has not been set.