The original crime was stealing a loaf of bread to feed his starving family. His five-year prison sentence was then extended for a number of failed escape attempts. In the book, after being released from prison, Valjean stole some money from a young chimney sweep - just after being pardoned and let go by the bishop of Digne ( I do not believe the musical includes the episode of theft from the chimney sweep, but focuses on the crime Valjean committed in robbing the bishop.) He also tears up his “yellow passport” which he is required by law to present wherever he goes, to identify himself as a criminal: this is breaking parole. He then evades arrest for these crimes, which is itself a crime.

Javert pursues Valjean not because of the importance of the crime, but because respect for the law is the whole of Javert’s character: without it, he is nothing (as becomes rather evident later in the narrative.) No matter how small the infraction, Javert is wholly dedicated to finding it out and punishing it according to the law. It also offends his personal pride that this common criminal continues to confound his efforts to capture him: Valjean is the mythical “one that got away.”

Always forward,

Carson