EDWARDSVILLE – An East Alton man with a prior theft conviction faces new theft charges after allegedly taking tip jars from a series of Edwardsville restaurants.
Sheldon D. Williams, 31, of East Alton, was charged on Aug. 13, 2026 with three counts of theft (each Class 4 felonies) and one count of driving while license is suspended (a Class a misdemeanor).
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Williams allegedly stole tip jars containing cash from three different restaurants in Edwardsville on July 8, 2026. These included Poke Munch, Riviera Maya, and Viva la Fiesta, each of which were reportedly stolen from on the same day.
Charging documents note Williams had previously been convicted in 2020 of theft in St. Clair County.
Williams was additionally accused in this latest case of driving a motor vehicle on a public road, Century Drive in Edwardsville, while his license had been suspended.
The Edwardsville Police Department presented the latest case against Williams, who was ordered released from custody pending trial.
All individuals charged are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
