Burglar told to use prison time to change her ways

A 21-year-old woman who committed a series of burglaries in Douglas County while on probation for a similar offense in Carson City was sentenced Tuesday to serve six years in Nevada State Prison.

Kathlene Pierson must serve at least 14 months before she is eligible for parole.

"Think about what it would be like if you come back here for another offense with attempted burglary and burglary on your record," said District Judge Dave Gamble.

He confronted Pierson over letters she wrote from Douglas County Jail to an acquaintance about what she thought should happen to anyone who influenced how the judge sentenced her.

"Did you know they read letters you send out from jail?" Gamble asked. "You should. You've been in jail like 100 times."

Pierson said the policy was different at the Carson City jail and she was unaware outgoing letters would be read.

"Who should I sentence today?" Gamble asked. "The person in these letters who says somebody ought to get 'shanked' if they cause the judge to get mad before you come in for sentencing, or the girl who sits before me today looking all innocent?

"You sound in this letter like some old hag who's been in and out of prison 20 times. Is that what you want? Do you have anybody who loves you?"

Pierson said she had the support of her parents and wanted to be a mother to her 3-year-old daughter.

"I missed my daughter's third birthday in here," she said.

Before her arrest, Pierson said she was admitted to a substance abuse rehabilitation program and had been clean for nine months.

"I got to see my daughter and take care of her. I bonded with her. I know what she likes to eat and what time she goes to bed," Pierson said.

"When my parents bring her to see me in prison, she's not going to want to hug me. I want to be a good daughter and a good mom."

Gamble told Pierson she needed to use the prison time to change.

"Good moms don't use crank, good moms don't use marijuana and good moms don't break into people's houses and steal stuff," Gamble said. "This has to be the time to change.

"You don't get to be that person by putting yourself under the influence of jerks."

Pierson and three men were convicted of four residential and eight vehicle burglaries in the Johnson Lane area in December and January. Several other attempts were thwarted by alert neighbors.

Investigators were led to the suspects in January by a 57-year-old Johnson Lane woman who had been checking vehicles in shopping center parking lots for her stolen handicap parking sign.

They were led to a trailer at Silver City RV Park after the victim spotted the permit in a vehicle at Target.

Pierson was on a deferred sentence for an attempted burglary conviction from Carson City when she committed the Douglas County crimes.

Her probation was revoked and she was ordered to serve 12-32 months in Nevada State Prison.

Gamble set her sentence concurrent to the Carson City offense.

He ordered Pierson to report to District Court within 60 days of her release to determine a payment schedule for the $13,497.33 in restitution she was ordered to pay.