Check thief sentenced to prison

A 33-year-old woman on probation in California was sentenced Monday to four years in Nevada State Prison for the Douglas County leg of a check-cashing spree that crossed both states.

A tearful Charity Rife told District Judge Michael Gibbons that she was through with her criminal ways.

"I stand before you on the lonely journey of discovery. This is the end of being a thief. In the last 20 months, I became determined to regain my sobriety and my mental health," Rife said.

Rife said her 10-year-old daughter visited her in jail last week, the first time she had seen the child in two years.

"Seeing my daughter look at me through the window - she cried - it made me realize what a crappy parent I've been," Rife said. "I know I am only seconds away from spending the rest of my life in prison," Rife said.

She promised to pay nearly $7,000 restitution and $223 in extradition fees when she completes her prison terms.

Rife is to be returned to California where she was sentenced to 44 months for a similar offense.

She also faces charges in Washoe County and Carson City.

Rife was identified after a bank photo of her cashing a stolen birthday check in Douglas County in September 2008 was posted online. Douglas deputies received a complaint that a $40 check had been altered to $800.

Rife reportedly stole the check in Reno and cashed it in Minden.

Gibbons sentenced her Monday to three concurrent 12-48-month terms in Nevada State Prison. He ordered her to return to court at the end of her Nevada sentence to set up a restitution scheduled.

Rife pleaded guilty in May to three counts of uttering a forged instrument.

The Nevada sentence is consecutive to her California sentence.

She was sentenced in Washoe County to 12-34 months, suspended, and placed on probation.

"It's very likely she's going to be revoked," said her lawyer, Tod Young. "Ms. Rife knows that."

Gibbons said he was moved by a letter she wrote to the court.

"I read that letter and I felt sorry for her," he said. "Then I looked at her record. She's a con artist. She'll say what she thinks needs to be said."

Prosecutor Karen Dustman said Rife was a career criminal.

"She's not someone we want back in our community," Dustman said.

Gibbons told Rife if she did all the things she said to change her behavior, she could turn her life around.

"You're 33, you still have a lot of life ahead of you," he said.