Vet charged for taking tattered flag

WINTER PARK, Fla., Oct. 15 (UPI) -- A Florida U.S. Army veteran who took a tattered U.S. flag from a small business with the intention of replacing it said he is being charged with petty theft.

Karl Edward Baldner, 49, said he took the tattered flag from the business near Winter Park in the summer of 2009 because he believes the flag should be properly displayed and he intended to replace it with a newer flag, the Orlando Sentinel reported Friday.

Baldner said he left a note when he took the flag with his name and contact information.

"I felt for sure he'd call me, but he didn't call me," Baldner said Wednesday. "He called the police."

Baldner said he was questioned by a deputy and thought the matter was too insignificant to warrant charges, but he was recently issued a summons stating the state attorney's office is charging him with a misdemeanor count of petty theft, the Orlando Sentinel reported Friday.

The veteran said he will not accept a plea deal.

"Yes, I would go to jail for my flag," he said. "What I did was the right thing and that's why I'm so adamant and I'm angry. I don't go around intentionally trying to break the law."