An owner of a huge candy store has found himself in a not-so-sweet scenario after authorities reportedly slapped him with charges allegedly stemming from selling liquor-filled sweets sans a license.
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Robert Wagner, the 66-year-old owner of the not-so-subtly titled "Minnesota's Largest Candy Store," caught a gross misdemeanor charge for selling liquor without a license or permit, allegedly for having tasty treats boasting alcohol on the shelves at his shop in Jordan, Minnesota, according to MPR News.
A criminal complaint filed on Oct. 27, obtained by the outlet, claims an anonymous tip led Minnesota Department of Public Safety's Alcohol and Gambling Enforcement Division agents to go undercover as candy-loving customers at the store back in July.
The agents reportedly discovered liquor-filled candy being sold, despite the candy store lacking a license to sell alcohol. The agents reportedly found chocolate-covered brandy cherries boasting a 7.3% brandy concentration. In a moment that would make Eliot Ness green with envy, they also uncovered chocolates with a whiskey syrup center. The decadent treat reportedly measured 3.58% alcohol by volume.
The criminal complaint also alleges the store sold some of the liquor-filled sweets to a minor child without checking the minor's ID."
In fact, agents claim that no special process was in place to sell the liquor-filled sweets, which allegedly were sold like any other candy item in the store.
Candy Store Owner Claims He Believed He Was Within His Rights to Sell Liquor-Filled Sweets Without a License
Reportedly, Wagner admitted his store didn't have a liquor license. However, the candy store owner allegedly claimed he thought it was okay to go ahead and sell the alcohol-infused candy regardless.
As the owner of "Minnesota's Largest Candy Store," Wagner said he needed to provide every sweet on the market. "Even if it doesn't represent much in sales."
"We have suckers that have scorpions in them," Wagner pointed out to local outlet Fox 9 earlier this week. "We don't sell a lot of them, but we got it.
"The candies that have the spirits inside of them. We want those as well,' he added.
Wagner went on to claim he'd had the liquor-filled sweets in stock for years. He added that he thought the law supported him in doing so. Regardless, he seems to think this has been blown out of proportion and could've been handled in a single conversation.
"They could have stopped and talked to me and said, 'Hey Robert, we don't think you can sell this candy.' And I'd say, 'Well, I think I can. Here's my documentation,'" he reasoned to Fox 9. "And then we'd have a conversation. And if they convinced me, well then, I'd say, 'I'll take it off the shelf, no big deal.'"
Regardless, the candy shop owner is keeping his sense of humor about the ordeal as he prepares for a Dec. 18 court appearance. He's renamed his candy shop "Minnesota's Most Wanted Candy Store," per a sign he placed out front.
Meanwhile, if the whimsical candy store owner is found guilty, he faces nearly a year behind bars and a $3,000 fine.
