Lobster Thief and Carjacker is Sentenced to Jail for up to 20 Years

Charles A. Shumanis, who pleaded guilty to stealing lobster from Weis Markets and then carjacking an elderly man outside a South Whitehall restaurant during his escape, was sentenced today to 7.5 to 20 years in prison.

Shumanis, 47, was arrested March 1 after he tried to steal lobster from Weis Markets in Allentown. Then, while being pursued, he ran across Cedar Crest Boulevard and carjacked a 79-year-old man's white BMW outside the Friendly’s restaurant. 

In a negotiated plea, Shumanis pleaded guilty to robbery of a motor vehicle, retail theft (two counts) and escape, according to court records. Additional charges were withdrawn.

According to a Sept. 7 report on lehighvalleylive.com, Shumanis told the judge he stole the lobster to support his drug and alcohol problem. A prosecutor said there is a market for lobster on the street.

Before today's sentencing lehighvalleylive.com reported that Shumanis claimed he had accepted responsibility and was apologetic for the incident but he became "visibly angry" after Lehigh County Judge Doug Reichley sentenced him to up to two decades in state prison.