A career criminal, easily mistaken for a trustworthy senior citizen, pleaded guilty to a diamond ring theft and was summarily sentenced to two years in county jail and two additional years of mandatory supervision, as reported by the Los Angeles Times.
According to John Hall, the Riverside County district attorney's office spokesman, D.P., 83, pleaded guilty to one felony count of burglary and one felony count of grand theft.
On top of the sentence, Judge William Lebov also ordered D.P. to steer clear of all jewelry stores for four years.
However, Hall objected to the plea and the sentence. Hall said that there were "numerous aggravating factors" that should have compelled the judge to sentence D.P. to six years of custody – the maximum sentence.
In an e-mail Hall further explained the "factors" as "a criminal history dating back to 1952, crimes having been committed across the United States as well as internationally, that she used her age to gain the trust of victims, a previous failure to successfully complete probation and parole, and that she was on parole when she committed the crime charged in this case."
Working as D.P.'s defense attorney, Gretchen von Helms disagreed with Hall. Von Helms said, "The judge tempered punishment with compassion about her age. He took into account the taxpayers' pocketbook. And do we really need to incarcerate a nonviolent offender – yes, a repeat offender, that's true – who's ill, who has emphysema, who's elderly?"
Von Helms said that Judge Lebov's sentencing was "a very thoughtful response" to which she was "very grateful" for.
D.P.'s notoriety as a criminal has been the subject of television programs, newspaper articles and a documentary. There has even been some discussion of a film, with star Halle Berry staring as D.P.
Police records show that during their investigations they found D.P. to be demure and elegant – which proved to be effective for conning jewelers. In one court document D.P. refers to her occupation as a "jewel thief."
D.P. had been out of jail for approximately three months before she stole the diamond ring valued at $22,500 on October 21 of last year. D.P. had entered El Paso Jewelers in an upscale shopping center in Palm Dessert, tried on several necklaces, earrings and rings while telling the owner, R.M., she had $42,000 to spend.
R.M. said that D.P. left the store, promising to return the next day with her money, when he noticed that the ring, that D.P. had planned to buy, was missing.
D.P. had pawned the ring for $800, according to the shop's owner, and has been ordered to pay the store back.
Von Helms said that her client expects to serve up to six months of her prison sentence, with time off for the period already served and for good behavior. In regards to D.P. ever quitting her life of crime von Helms told reporters, "I think she has good intentions. I know we have to take that with a grain of salt, given her history. She can't just say those words; she has to prove it with actions. That will be on her."
Are you being charged with a crime for the first time, or the latest in a series? Either way you must contact a criminal defense attorney for help with your case right away!
