Ring thief gets 4 years, could do time at boot camp

By Keith Coffman , Special to the Rocky

Published February 15, 2008 at 12:30 a.m.

Text size

More Local News

A former caregiver who stole a diamond ring off the finger of an Alzheimer's patient was sentenced to four years in prison on Thursday, with a recommendation by the judge that she attend a boot camp for youthful offenders.

Ebony Michelle Butler, 23, pleaded guilty last September to stealing the ring from Jean Mayer, who was a resident at the Spring Ridge Park assisted living center in Wheat Ridge, where Butler worked.

In imposing the sentence, Jefferson County District Judge Jack Berryhill rejected pleas from Butler for a probationary sentence, calling her crime "incredible" given the condition of Mayer, who was afflicted with advanced Alzheimer's disease and a brain tumor.

"It's not just a theft, it's a breach of trust," Berryhill said.

Mayer's husband, Russell, noticed the ring - an anniversary present to his wife - was missing when he went to visit her at the facility.

Police were led to Butler after receiving a tip that she was bragging about hocking the ring, which was later recovered from a Lakewood pawnshop. Jean Mayer died 10 days after the ring was found.

Last May, Butler was charged with two felony counts of theft and providing false information to a pawnbroker.

In September, she pleaded guilty to the charges, but skipped out on her original sentencing hearing three weeks ago, which Berryhill noted before imposing the sentence.

Russell Mayer attended the hearing and made a brief statement. "I hold no hate toward the defendant, but am disappointed in her actions," he said.

Butler also addressed the court, sobbing as she apologized to the Mayer family.

"I feel guilt and shame for what I've done," she said. "I'm asking the Mayer family for their forgiveness."

But prosecutor Brian Domingues, arguing against a light sentence, said Butler has missed court dates and allegedly told a witness in the case, "That lady (Jean Mayer) is such a (expletive expletive) that I deserve that ring."

Jefferson County District Attorney Scott Storey said the boot camp sentence is a 90-day intensive "in-your-face" program. If Butler successfully completes the program, by law she must return to court for a sentence modification.

Subscribe to the Rocky Mountain News