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Bachelorette Frontrunner Ben Zom Charged With Theft In 2009 — Inside His Criminal Past!
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Jun. 10 2015, Updated 9:11 p.m. ET
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Ben Zom joined The Bachelorette to steal Kaitlyn Bristowe’s heart – but she may want to make sure he doesn’t swipe anything else! The show’s frontrunner was busted for stealing a textbook while a sophomore at San Jose State University in March 2009.
![Ben zom the bachelorette theft 03](https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/zahOPieOo/480x320/2015/06/ben-zom-the-bachelorette-theft-03.jpg 480w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/zahOPieOo/640x427/2015/06/ben-zom-the-bachelorette-theft-03.jpg 640w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/zahOPieOo/768x512/2015/06/ben-zom-the-bachelorette-theft-03.jpg 768w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/zahOPieOo/1024x683/2015/06/ben-zom-the-bachelorette-theft-03.jpg 1024w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/zahOPieOo/1280x854/2015/06/ben-zom-the-bachelorette-theft-03.jpg 1280w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/zahOPieOo/1440x960/2015/06/ben-zom-the-bachelorette-theft-03.jpg 1440w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/zahOPieOo/1600x1067/2015/06/ben-zom-the-bachelorette-theft-03.jpg 1600w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/zahOPieOo/2160x1440/2015/06/ben-zom-the-bachelorette-theft-03.jpg 2160w)
A bookstore security guard contacted campus police after the reality star left the store without paying for a $127 textbook, police and court documents obtained by Star magazine reveal.
![Ben zom the bachelorette theft 05](https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/8gM_oB5EL/480x320/2015/06/ben-zom-the-bachelorette-theft-05.jpg 480w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/8gM_oB5EL/640x427/2015/06/ben-zom-the-bachelorette-theft-05.jpg 640w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/8gM_oB5EL/768x512/2015/06/ben-zom-the-bachelorette-theft-05.jpg 768w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/8gM_oB5EL/1024x683/2015/06/ben-zom-the-bachelorette-theft-05.jpg 1024w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/8gM_oB5EL/1280x854/2015/06/ben-zom-the-bachelorette-theft-05.jpg 1280w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/8gM_oB5EL/1440x960/2015/06/ben-zom-the-bachelorette-theft-05.jpg 1440w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/8gM_oB5EL/1600x1067/2015/06/ben-zom-the-bachelorette-theft-05.jpg 1600w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/8gM_oB5EL/2160x1440/2015/06/ben-zom-the-bachelorette-theft-05.jpg 2160w)
Ben maintained his innocence and explained that he forgot to pay for the book. But a security video shows him taking off the wrapper and price tag from the book before he put it in his backpack.
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He was charged with misdemeanor petty theft and took a plea deal. The charge was dropped, but Ben had to complete 20 hours of volunteer work.
![Ben zom the bachelorette theft 00](https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/ksEXVcUUL/333x500/2015/06/ben-zom-the-bachelorette-theft-00.jpg 333w)
Ben isn’t the only contestant who had a run-in with the law. Fellow contestant Daniel Finney was arrested for a DUI in 2013.
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Do you think the theft will affect his relationship with Kaitlyn? Tell us in the comments below or tweet @OKMagazine!
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