Mrs. Noriega Gets Theft Plea Deal
The wife of Manuel A. Noriega, the former leader of Panama who is in prison, will accept a plea bargain to keep her out of jail for stealing high-fashion buttons, a source close to her defense confirmed Wednesday.
Prosecutor Anne Lyons said she was told that Felicidad Noriega will accept the deal offered by the Dade County state attorney’s office. The defense source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed the agreement.
Mrs. Noriega was charged with criminal mischief and petty theft. She allegedly took 27 buttons, worth $305, from women’s designer jackets at a department store in a suburban mall. A store videotape showing her clipping the buttons was released Wednesday.
Under the plea bargain, the charges would be dropped but Mrs. Noriega would pay the store $1,321 for damage to the jackets, perform community service and promise not to sue the store for accusing her of shoplifting.
Trial is set Monday for her and co-defendant Rosa Busto. A conviction on the charges could bring up to five years in prison.
Her husband, convicted in April on drug and racketeering charges, may face up to 120 years in prison when he is sentenced July 10.
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