Claude Allen, President Bush's top domestic policy advisor until he resigned in February, then accused in March of a theft by returning receipts sfor refunds cheme at Target and Hechts, will plead guilty to a misdemeanor in exchange for having felony charges dismissed and receiving no jail time.

Allen was arrested after Montgomery police accused him of stealing more than $5,000 in merchandise from Target and Hecht's stores through a refund scheme. Police said this is how the scheme worked: Allen would walk into a store, pick up items and pay for them. He would later return to the store, pick up identical items and seek a refund using the receipt from the purchase. Police said he did this at least 25 times from October to January, buying items including a Bose home theater system, clothes and merchandise worth as little as $2.50. Several of the transactions were recorded by store surveillance cameras.

As part of the deal, Allen will pay $850.00 in restitution. Background here and here.