Marysville man avoids jail in grand theft case

A Marysville man, said by his attorney to be terrified of jail, will have to serve the equivalent of 30 days in the adult work program — but avoids jail — for grabbing $120 out of the hand of a woman to whom he had agreed to sell an iPhone and Xbox.

Edward Albert Connelly, 20, met Oct. 29 with the woman and her 16-year-old daughter at Swezy and East 13th streets in Marysville. The woman spoke about being burned in an attempted transaction with another individual.

"Burned again," Connelly replied and fled with her cash on his bicycle without turning over the equipment, according to the Yuba County Probation Department report.

The woman provided police the phone number she had for Connelly — who used the name John E. Smith — and police were able to track Connelly down.

Attorney Roxanna Gomez, representing Connelly, said he had never served time in jail and was terrified at the prospect. Sitting in jail wouldn't help him, the attorney said.

Yuba County Superior Judge Julia Scrogin on Monday sentenced Connelly to two years of probation and the adult work program that includes picking up trash at Riverfront Park. Scrogin declined to allow the defendant to do community service rather than the work program.

Connelly pleaded no contest in January to felony grand theft. He completed the 11th grade at North Marysville High School before leaving the school, according to the probation report.

CONTACT Ryan McCarthy at rmccarthy@appealdemocrat.com or 749-4780. Find him on Facebook at /ADrmccarthy or on Twitter at @ADrmccarthy.