Girl Scout Thief Pleads to Another Charge

Just more than a week after a juvenile court judge found her guilty of stealing from a Girl Scout, 18-year old Stefanie Woods pleaded no contest Thursday, to another charge, this time in adult court, skipping out on a $28 Denny's tab.

 Pleading no contest, while not technically an admission of guilt, now puts Woods at the mercy of Judge Barry Cohen, who will sentence Woods next month.  The maximum Woods can receive on the misdemeanor charge is 60 days in jail and a 500 dollar fine.

 After the hearing, Stefanie discussed her shameless admission to taking the Girl Scout's money, in front of television cameras in February.  She said, "All I can say is that I'm really sorry."

 Referring to 9-year old Girl Scout Gracie Smith testifying at last week's trial, Woods said the little girl "looked really cute when she came into the courtroom."  But about the restaurant dine and dash, "Denny's is not my fault, even though you guys don't want to believe me."

 Woods also begged for a break from the public. "Even though I said some things on TV," said Woods, "I still don't think it gives them the right to be screaming things at me at Publix, at Starbucks, at Wal Mart, at Target. People scream things at me every single day and it's getting really really hard."

 Is she different now?  "I don't have much of an attitude any more, really," answered Woods. "Except for the other day. That was just anger.  So what can I say?" said Woods, talking about when she made a gesture and shoved the lens of a CBS 12 photographer following the Girl Scout trial.

 In court on Thursday, Woods lawyer Lewis Hanna questioned prosecutors tactics, implying publicity had something to do with re-filing the Denny's charges after earlier dropping them.  Hanna also questioned prosecutors decision to drop charges against Stefanie's 17-year old friend and accomplice, in exchange for the friend testifying against Woods.

 But in the end, Stefanie, her mother and lawyer decided against another trial. Hanna said he did want another forum to "vilify" his client.  They also a rejected a plea offer from prosecutors, which would have put Stefanie on probation for six month.