Woman Sentenced To 8 Days In Jail For Stealing Ex-'Idol' Contestant's iPhone
SANTA ANA (CBSLA.com) — A 47-year-old woman was sentenced to eight days in jail for stealing a former "American Idol" contestant's iPhone during an event at an Orange County elementary school last week.
Bertha Alicia Avalos of Santa Ana pleaded guilty Monday to misdemeanor petty theft of lost property and petty theft charges.
Todrick Hall, an "Idol" contestant in 2010, performed at Hazard Elementary in Santa Ana last Thursday for the principal's retirement ceremony.
He had placed his phone, which was in a wallet-case, on a school bench around 2:30 p.m. while he was signing autographs and posing for photos.
Hall later discovered his phone was missing and reported it to a school security officer.
Through the "Find My iPhone" application, the duo tracked down the device at a grocery store at Harbor and Garden Grove boulevards in Garden Grove.
Hall recognized a boy from the school at the store, and then noticed his mother, Avalos, run away.
Avalos then gave the phone back.
Hall reported the incident to the Santa Ana Police Department, and Avalos was taken into custody.
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