Gless Fan Is Sentenced to 6-Year Term for Break-In : Crime: Woman obsessed with television star pleads no contest to burglary charges. She apologizes for harassment.

An obsessed fan who armed herself with a rifle then barricaded herself in the Studio City home of actress Sharon Gless was sentenced to six years in state prison Monday after pleading no contest to burglary charges.

Joni Leigh Penn, 30, who admitted being in love with the star of the “Cagney & Lacey” television program, apologized for harassing Gless for at least two years prior to breaking into her home armed with a rifle and several hundred rounds of ammunition on March 30.

“I want to apologize to Sharon Gless and her family and her friends for all the distress and trouble I’ve caused,” said Penn, who wore a baggy blue suit and smiled occasionally during proceedings in San Fernando Superior Court. “I want her to feel safe, because she is.”

The Garden Grove woman was arrested at Gless’ home after a seven-hour standoff with police. She told authorities she wanted to sexually assault Gless, then commit suicide.

Authorities said Penn also broke into the actress’ house three days earlier to steal an address book in hopes of tracking down Gless at her other home in Malibu.

She was charged with two counts of burglary. Had Penn gone to trial, she could have faced up to nine years and eight months in prison if convicted.

Her attorney, Deputy Public Defender Mitch Bruckner, said Penn pleaded no contest “to avoid being the star of a media circus.”

Bruckner said he hoped Judge John H. Major would reduce Penn’s sentence when she returns to court Nov. 13 for a progress report. At that time, the judge will review reports from prison officials and counselors and can reconsider his sentence, Deputy Dist. Atty. Lori Dery said.

Dery said Gless remains fearful of Penn and said the actress wants to know when Penn will be eligible for parole.

“Without substantial psychiatric care, the defendant poses . . . a danger to her safety,” Dery said.

Penn had been under a 1988 court order to stay away from Gless after writing more than 100 love letters to the actress. Investigators said the letters were “obsessive,” but Gless testified in May that she did not feel threatened.

She sought the restraining order after receiving a letter from Penn’s psychiatrist that stated, “Although this patient has no destructive intent toward you, she did plan to shoot herself in front of you.”

Deputy Dist. Atty. Ken Barshop said there was “no question” Penn has “some severe psychological problems.”