Mmmmm...I'd KILL for a donut right now.

This isn't a one-time-deal. This guy has been arrested on many different things. He is a career criminal. Like the article said, it has nothing to do with the donut, it is the assault on the clerk and then running away. If he did nothing wrong then why run away instead of staying and trying to work it out. Geez, 52 cents and he can stay out of jail, instead he get the chance to spend life there.

The main problem with these type of things is it usually results in greater more horrible crimes.

Think about it. This sends a message that the next time you pull a crime, you might as well as kill the witness instead of pushing her away. If you face the same penalty, killing everyone will give you a better chance to get away with zero additional penalties.

Plus calling it "strong-arm robbery" is a stretch.

Not a "Strong-arm Robbery", an "Overzealous non-authorized acquisition of foodstuffs."

Not a "Career Criminal", but simply a member of that oppressed group "Guest possession relocation workers".

Yeah, I thought "strong-arm robbery" was kind of lame too. If you can't do the time, don't do the crime.

Technically, wouldn't grabbing his arm amount to assault? In that case, can't he claim self-defense?

WTF? It's just a donut!

You're not supposed to attempt to restrain shoplifters, you leave that to the cops. If you can convince them that they have to come with you into the store and wait, great. Otherwise you are committing a crime by illegally detaining them.