(Well… kinda.)
By Mack Callahan
Asking for a Friend
TOPEKA — Country music fans nearly dropped their sweet tea Tuesday when the Shawnee County booking report listed the name Christopher Michael Stapleton.
Born 6/20/71. Booked at 2:25 p.m. on October 7. Charged with theft under $1,500 — his second shoplifting offense in under five years.
Cue the record scratch.
No, it’s not the Grammy-winning Tennessee crooner behind “Tennessee Whiskey.” This Stapleton doesn’t have a beard worth millions or a voice that can make whiskey cry. But he does share one heck of a name — and apparently a knack for finding trouble at the checkout line.
The local Stapleton’s $1,500 personal-surety bond may not buy front-row tickets to the real Chris’s next tour, but it will buy him a chance to explain to a judge why he can’t stay out of the clearance aisle.
So, to clarify:
Chris Stapleton, the country legend? Still on tour.
Chris Stapleton, Topeka’s “buy-now, pay-never” outlaw? On a short hiatus — courtesy of Shawnee County Corrections.
Sometimes the headlines write themselves, friends.
Want to submit your own “Only in Topeka” moment for Mack to chew on?
[email protected] — Subject line: Bless Their Hearts.
