Woman stole 2,000 library books to sell on Internet

A Vista woman has pleaded guilty to stealing more than 2,000 books and DVDs from public libraries in Carlsbad, Oceanside and San Diego with the intent to sell them online.

Maria Nater, 45, planned to sell the books and DVDs on the Internet, prosecutors said. The most common topics were animals, crafts and cooking, and some of the books were wrapped and ready to ship.

In exchange for pleading guilty to one count of felony burglary, Nater is set to receive probation when sentenced April 25. She has agreed to pay $7,600 in restitution, stay away from public libraries, and not use any internet accounts such as ebay, Craigslist, or Amazon, according to prosecutors.

If Nater violates any conditions of probation, she could be sentenced to a year in jail, according to court documents.

The investigation began when Carlsbad librarians noticed that shelves were being depleted of books over several months.

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-- Tony Perry in San Diego