Jewel Thief, 80, Pleads No Contest To Grand Theft

LOS ANGELES (CBS) — A woman already serving five years in prison for taking a ring from a San Diego County Macy's store pleaded no contest Friday to grand theft in a separate incident.

Doris Payne, who has prior convictions in Denver; Santa Clara and Orange counties, pleaded no contest to taking another ring valued at $16,000 from a Santa Monica Jewelry store on Oct. 5.

The 80-year-old was sentenced to 16 months in prison – a term that will run concurrently with the time she is already serving. Payne was also ordered to pay restitution of $9,500 -- the approximate value of the ring.

She was sentenced Feb. 9, to five years in state prison for stealing an $8,900 ring from a Macy's store in San Diego County's Mission Valley in January 2010.

At Payne's sentencing in February, San Diego Superior Court Judge Frank Brown said the upper prison term was warranted.

"You won't stop. That's the problem here," the judge said. "She's a thief. She's charming. Santa Claus' wife, that's who she is."

KNX 1070's Brian Ping reports that Payne has gained so much notoriety that Halle Berry will reportedly play her in an upcoming movie.

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