A Central Beach woman was sentenced to nine months in jail and more than $15,000 in fines and court costs after pleading ‘no contest’ to stealing more than $21,000 worth of jewelry from Belle Cose last March.
“I’m ashamed of my behavior which led to my arrest,” Dawn Jeannine Van Dorne, 55, told the court before her sentencing.
Van Dorne, who was credited with 160 days already served in the Indian River County Jail, is also being held without bond on a Felony Fugitive of Justice Warrant from California.
After completing her nine-month sentence in Indian River County, she will be extradited to California where she is wanted on unspecified criminal charges, according to Judge Cynthia Cox and court and police records.
Van Dorne was convicted of third-degree grand theft charges for stealing two pink tourmaline and diamond rings valued at $15,000 and $6,100 from the top of a display case at the Belle Cose boutique on March 27 during a trunk show.
After Indian River Shores police posted a very clear surveillance camera image of Van Dorne on social media, a Riomar resident called to say she recognized the blonde woman.
The white jeep registered to Van Dorne was also captured on Shores license plate cameras entering and leaving the town on the date of the theft during the time frame of the incident.
Investigators were able to use the evidence to track down Van Dorne, who was living at her parents’ residence. Police obtained a search warrant on April 26 and recovered the stolen jewelry and arrested Van Dorne.
