Sentencing set in theft for drugs case

Sentencing was set for April 28 for a 37-year-old Topaz Ranch Estates woman who admitted stealing from a friend to get money for drugs.

Donna Goodwin pleaded guilty to felony theft, admitting she stole jewelry, a camera and an MP3 player.

"I was on drugs and I went in and stole her jewelry and pawned it," she said. "I needed the money for drugs."

Goodwin said she was using methamphetamine.

District Judge Dave Gamble refused to release Goodwin pending sentencing, but told her she could go to in-patient substance abuse treatment as a Douglas County Jail inmate.

"I would be doing a disservice to allow somebody on meth to attend drug rehabilitation as an out-patient," Gamble said. "If someone is down the meth road far enough to steal from friends, they're messed up."

He told Goodwin her task was to stay off drugs.

"You have to already have used meth for the last time in your life or you will die or be spending the rest of your life in prison," Gamble said.