'Yawning' alleged serial Red Bull thief, caught on camera, pleads guilty in 3 Racine County cases

RACINE COUNTY -- A man prosecutors said was caught on camera yawning during a theft involving Red Bull in Burlington reached plea deals in three cases on Tuesday, March 19.

Cory Naber on Tuesday pleaded guilty in connection with three cases filed out of Racine County in July 2018.

Naber pleaded guilty to three counts of retail theft-intentionally taking less than $500 and one count of felony bail jumping, repeater. Two counts of felony bail jumping were dismissed but read into the court record. Naber will be sentenced May 20.

Naber and his alleged accomplice were accused of stealing several dozen 12-packs of Red Bull -- close to $1,000 worth -- from stores in Burlington, Caledonia and Mount Pleasant in May 2018.

PHOTO GALLERY



In one case, Naber was accused of stealing from Walmart in Burlington. A criminal complaint said surveillance video showed a man placing 13 12-packs of Red Bull in a cart and "making no attempt to pay for the merchandise as he exited the store" on May 5, 2018. The complaint said investigators compared the surveillance video with Wisconsin Department of Corrections photos of Naber, and they matched.

In the second, Naber was accused of stealing from Festival Foods on Washington Avenue in Mount Pleasant. A criminal complaint said a manager at the store said on May 18, 2018, he noticed the store's Red Bull display was "suspiciously empty." He took a look at surveillance video, which showed a man later identified as Naber enter with a man later identified as Kevin La Gosh. Naber was seen in the video loading 14 12-pack cases of Red Bull into the cart and walking toward the exit. The complaint said La Gosh distracted an employee and Naber exited without paying.

In the third, Naber was accused of stealing from Pick 'n Save on Douglas Avenue in Caledonia. The criminal complaint said a suspect was captured on surveillance video taking 18 12-packs of Red Bull, loading them into a cart, before exiting the store without paying. It happened on May 23, 2018. The complaint said a customer snapped a picture of the suspect vehicle, and investigators learned it was registered to Naber.

Naber's alleged accomplice, Kevin La Gosh, 30, of Milwaukee was charged July 10, 2018 with one count of retail theft-intentionally taking less than $500, as party to a crime and misdemeanor bail jumping.

La Gosh has a plea/sentencing hearing set for April 30.

As of Tuesday, March 19, Naber had eight open cases, filed out of Racine and Waukesha counties. Below is a listing of cases against Naber, dating back to January 2018:

Filed March 5, 2019 out of Waukesha County:


    An initial appearance was scheduled for March 25.

    Filed Feb. 4, 2019 out of Waukesha County:


      A hearing was set for April 22.

      Filed Feb. 4, 2019 out of Waukesha County:


        A hearing was set for April 22.

        Filed July 11, 2018 out of Waukesha County:


          A hearing was set for April 22.

          Filed May 24, 2018 out of Calumet County:


            Naber pleaded no contest to the retail theft charge on Feb. 27, 2019. He was sentenced to serve 150 days in jail with Huber release, with credit for 94 days time served.

            Filed Jan. 26, 2018 out of Waukesha County:


              A hearing was set for April 22.