A Sioux Falls woman who stole more than $1,000 worth of merchandise from the Brookings Walmart store earlier this year has been sentenced to three years in the state penitentiary .

Naisha Rivera, 24, pleaded guilty to one count of grand theft last month.

The former rural Brookings resident stole items including a laptop computer using a scheme at the discount store's self-checkout lanes.

State's Attorney Clyde Calhoon said the defendant checked the items out, got a clerk to cancel them out and then took all the merchandise she initially charged but never paid for.

Calhoon said Rivera acknowledged the procedure she used when questioned by investigators. The thefts occurred on three separate occasions in January 2009, with all the merchandise stolen valued at $1,173.96. They were discovered and reported in February, according to court documents.

At sentencing this week, Rivera told Circuit Judge Vincent Foley that she knew what she did was wrong and she wouldn't do it again. She said she was sorry for and regretted her actions in January and has since changed her life.

Defense attorney Al Glover said Rivera's previous convictions included traffic violations and writing bad checks.

He asked Foley to not send his client to the penitentiary or allow her to serve jail time in Minnehaha County.

Foley called the defendant an unrepentant thief from which society needs to be protected . Rivera has repeat felonies on her record and would be walking out of the courtroom in handcuffs, he added.

Besides the prison time, Foley ordered Rivera to pay $73 in court costs, court-appointed attorney fees and $1,494 in restitution .

Contact Jill Fier at jfier@brookingsregister .com.