Doris
Payne, the 80-year-old international jewel thief whose criminal history spans
decades, was sentenced to five years in prison Feb. 9, according to news
reports.

Payne
was convicted on Jan. 12 for stealing a $8,900 diamond ring from Macy’s in San
Diego in 13 months ago.

Though defense
lawyer Gretchen von Helms asked for a lesser sentence, citing Payne’s
health issues, her
criminal history and apparent lack of remorse reportedly prompted Judge Frank
Brown to sentence her to the maximum term. “You won’t stop. That’s the problem
here,” Brown said. 

According
to testimony, on Jan. 2, 2010, Payne told a Macy’s employee that she was
looking for a ring for her daughter. She was able to distract the employee and
leave the store with the $8,900 ring. Payne later told a detective that she sold
the ring for $1,800.

JCK