File photo Misty L. Brown, 41, of 28 Railroad Square, Apt. 44, Nashua

NASHUA – Authorities jailed city resident Misty L. Brown after she allegedly stole two sandwiches, salad dressing, cheese and a couple of beverages, a haul valued at a total of $16.40.

The reason for the seemingly stiff sentence is that Brown, 41, of 28 Railroad Square, Apt. 44, has two previous convictions on theft-related charges. She has another case currently pending in Hillsborough County Superior Court South, according to court documents and police reports of the most recent incident.

Police said officers arrested Brown shortly after responding to a local Market Basket grocery store, at which employees reported they were detaining a female for allegedly shoplifting items from the store.

The officers learned in speaking with several employees that Brown allegedly “selected items and concealed them within her bag,” then allegedly “walked past all points of sale” without paying for them, police said.

Brown was charged with one count of theft, which is typically a misdemeanor offense, but her two prior convictions upgrade the charge to a Class B felony, police said.

Superior Court Judge Charles Temple sent Brown to jail to await a bail hearing scheduled for June 5. According to Temple’s order, Brown will remain in Valley Street jail in Manchester until the next Adult Drug Court session convenes on Tuesday in the Nashua court.

“The defendant’s bail will be addressed at the Drug Court session,” Temple wrote.

As for Brown’s past convictions, the first was in March 2015 on a misdemeanor theft charge, and the other in August 2016 on a felony count of receiving stolen property, according to court documents.

A dispositional hearing in the current case is tentatively scheduled for Aug. 2 in the Nashua court.

Dean Shalhoup can be reached at 594-1256, dshalhoup@nashuatelegraph.com or @Telegraph_DeanS.