Furman hangs around the soft drink cooler waiting for the store to get less crowded. Then he walks up to the cashier with a 12 ounce Coke, pulls out a $20 bill and lays the Coke and the money on the counter.

When the cash register pops open, Furman pulls his shirt aside to reveal a pistol butt. "This is a stickup. Save your life, buddy, just give me the money," he says quietly.

The cashier nods, takes out all the bills, stuffs them into a small paper bag and hands them over.

Next, Furman makes a 50 yard dash down a side street to his getaway car which he left in a tavern parking lot. This is where Furman’s plan starts going down hill. There’s a beer truck parked directly behind Furman’s getaway car. He’s hopelessly blocked in.

Furman takes to the woods and spends the next few hours running and looking over his shoulder. Did I mention that the temperature is 93 degrees and the humidity 83 percent?

Meanwhile detectives match Furman’s description with the guy that parked the beat-up Valiant at the tavern. By the time Furman gets home, two sheriff’s deputies are waiting (hiding in the bushes) to greet him.

Yes, Furman had a terrible day. It was even worse then he knew. Sure, he was arrested for armed robbery. But it was a robbery in which Furman actually lost five bucks. He took $15 of the store’s money, but he left behind the $20 bill he laid on the counter when he announced the holdup.

Furman hopes the fact that he left behind more than he took away will influence the judge. But what do you want to bet that what matters most here is armed robbery.