Winchester Woman Gets 13 Years For Crime Spree

MURRIETA, CA - A convicted felon who stole mail from a half-dozen Temecula residents and opened credit card accounts using the victims' information was sentenced Monday to 13 years in state prison.

Brittany Lee Ball, 27, admitted six counts of identity theft under a plea agreement with the District Attorney's Office. In exchange for her admissions, prosecutors dropped a dozen related ID theft counts, as well as a charge of possession of drugs for sale.

The plea deal was reached last week, just as a preliminary hearing was about to get underway to determine whether there was sufficient evidence to warrant a trial.

Superior Court Judge Kelly Hansen certified the terms of the plea deal and imposed the sentence stipulated by the prosecution and defense. Ball will serve her time at the Central California Women's Prison in Chowchilla. She will not be eligible for parole until 2023.

According to sheriff's Sgt. Geoffrey Green, detectives were conducting a mail theft investigation that led them to the defendant's home in the 31000 block of Gabriel Metsu Street in Winchester last April. A search warrant was served, and deputies discovered "an extensive amount of stolen mail, credit cards, fictitious checks and methamphetamine," Green said.

The thefts occurred over a roughly three-month span, according to court records.

Court records show that the ex-con has prior convictions for burglary, fraud, theft of public utilities and possession of illegal drugs.

– By City News Service / Image via Riverside County Sheriff's Department