Margarita bandit gets hefty tab

MADEIRA BEACH — William Clouse Reedy thought he was wastin' away again in Margaritaville. He ended up wasting away in the Pinellas County Jail.

The 50-year-old Seminole resident was arrested on Thursday night after he was accused of trying to skip out on the tab for three margaritas he ordered at two bars at the Johns Pass Village and Boardwalk. Reedy, who has 18 convictions for various forms of theft since 1977, pleaded no contest on Friday and was ordered to serve 30 days in jail, pay a $450 fine and ordered to stay away from the establishments that complained.

According to a Pinellas County Sheriff's arrest report, Reedy first drank and dashed on a margarita at Sportsman's Saloon around 8 p.m, then did the same at Bubba Gump Shrimp Company at 9 p.m. Reedy was nabbed when he returned to Sportsman's for another round, police said, and refused to pay when confronted by a manager.

His total tab, had he paid: $19.95.