WARREN — A Warren woman who failed a lie detector test in her theft case received a one-year prison sentence Thursday.

Venita Y. McCall, 38, 841 Willard Ave. SE, Warren, appeared with her attorney Charles Mickens for a sentencing hearing before Trumbull County Common Pleas Judge Ronald J. Rice. McCall pleaded guilty on Sept. 11 to an amended theft charge in the case of more than $15,000 in iPhones and accessories stolen from the Walmart in Liberty Township on Nov. 17, 2019.

Mickens had asked that Rice put McCall on probation but the judge refused, saying she has failed at probation on multiple occasions. Reading from the pre-sentence background report compiled on the defendant by the adult probation department, Rice said McCall had her first brush with the law at 19.

When questioned by the judge, McCall admitted to having a long criminal record, but she said she wanted another chance to get her life turned around.

“I apologize. I just want another chance,” McCall told the judge — saying she has children to watch over.

“Don’t use your children as an excuse,” the judge responded.

Rice also pointed out that McCall didn’t take responsibility for the theft despite the fact that she had failed a lie detector test on Sept. 1 administered by the Ohio State Highway Patrol, court records state.

McCall originally was charged in Girard Municipal Court with grand theft and criminal damaging. A Trumbull County grand jury indicted only her on the grand theft charge, which court records show was reduced in a plea deal with prosecutors.

Rice ordered the defendant to pay $15,329 in restitution to the Liberty Township store.

gvogrin@tribtoday.com