He was arrested, pleaded guilty and earlier this month was sentenced to three years in prison.
In delivering the prison term, the judge took into consideration that Malabehar, 47, of Mattoon, Ill., had 70 prior arrests. He also had been released from jail the day before his meal for not paying at another restaurant.
Malabehar made his menu choices at the Alamo Steakhouse on April 4.
"He ordered a filet, snow crab, lobster pinches, snickers pie, two shots of rumple minz, and a Mike's hard lemonade," a spokeswoman for Alamo Steak House said.
But when the check came for $69.27, he refused to pay.
"He came up to the server and said 'Let me let you in on a secret, I don't have any money," she said. "So the server went to the manager, who called the police. The police informed the manager that this guy has been going all over town and eating at restaurants without paying."
Malabehar had been arrested once earlier this year on Feb. 2 for eating at a restaurant without paying, according to Illinois records.
"The police told the manager to keep the man in the restaurant and that they would come," the spokeswoman said.
