If Lenmar A. Cotton had paid for the seafood, beer and other party items he and a woman picked up at a Stafford County grocery store last year, it would have cost about $500.

A Stafford County jury this week made Cotton pay a far heftier price--21/2 years in prison.

Cotton, 40, was given the prison term following a trial Tuesday in Stafford Circuit Court in which he acted as his own attorney.

His legal skills apparently did not impress the jurors, who convicted him of grand larceny and gave him a much harsher sentence than convicted shoplifters normally receive.

According to evidence presented by prosecutor Lori DiGiosia, the theft took place Aug. 11, 2002, at the Giant in the Doc Stone Commons shopping center in North Stafford.

Cotton and Kristan A. Larson were shopping for a party Cotton was having at his Stafford home, DiGiosia said.

The two took a 30-pound box of crab legs, two cases of beer, shrimp and other items through the self-checkout line, according to the evidence.

Larson rolled the basket out of the store and Cotton later exited through a different door.

At some point, store officials realized items had not been purchased before the couple left.

A Stafford deputy who had arrested Cotton previously in a domestic-assault case recognized him on a store surveillance camera.

When the deputy showed up at Cotton's house later that day, a party was in progress and Cotton was eating the crab legs, according to the evidence.

Larson pleaded guilty in April for her role in the theft and got a suspended five-year sentence.

In his defense, Cotton blamed her for the theft. He said that he thought she had paid for the items, a claim the jury obviously didn't buy.

At the end of the trial, Cotton told the jurors he would pray for them because they had convicted an innocent man.

To reach KEITH EPPS: 540/374-5404 kepps@freelancestar.com