A woman who confronted a burglar leaving her Oceanside home five months ago was in court yesterday afternoon to see the criminal sentenced to four years prison.

Homeowner Kathleen was able to briefly stop the tall, thin woman whom she caught leaving her house on Hunsaker Street last December. The thief was carrying an armload of loot, and spilled some of the jewelry and other items while she wrestled with Kathleen, but the offender soon wriggled out of Kathleen’s grip and escaped.

Oceanside police investigators eventually connected Sherri Lynn Difrancesco, 44, to that and other burglaries in the area through a fingerprint. Burglary victim Kathleen identified Difrancesco as the same woman she happened upon coming out of her home, when she testified at a court hearing in March 2013.

Sherri Lynn Difrancesco, also known as Sherri Kingston in public records, admitted robbery and burglary in a plea deal last month.

In San Diego’s North County Superior Court late yesterday afternoon, May 22, 2013, defendant Difrancesco was sentenced to 4 years prison. The repeat felon has at least three active court cases in San Diego County, and Honorable Judge Katz ordered all three prison terms, 2 years and 3 years and 4 years, to run concurrently.

Before sentencing, defense attorney James Dicks suggested the department of corrections might consider sending Difrancesco to “fire camp” as part of her custody.