WAILUKU - A 30-year-old former Transportation Security Administration worker was sentenced to 90 days in jail and five years' probation Thursday for stealing jewelry, gift cards and other things out of tourists' bags as the items were undergoing security screening at Kahului Airport.

Devie Darla Dale Feig, a single mother of five children, was also ordered to pay $945.39 in restitution, which she will pay to TSA. The agency already has reimbursed the victims.

Second Circuit Judge Joseph Cardoza followed a plea agreement in sentencing Feig.

In order for Feig to take care of her children and continue working, Cardoza ordered she spend two days in jail for 45 weeks, with the term beginning Monday.

"I'm not a bad person. But what I did was wrong. I wanted to say I'm sorry," Feig said while holding back tears.

Cardoza told Feig that people do make big mistakes but they have to learn from them.

He said she has to be a good example for her children and pay her debt to society.

Deputy Prosecutor Terence Herndon called the case egregious and asked that Feig receive the full 90-day jail term.

"I believe a strong message needs to be sent that this behavior will not be tolerated," he said.

Herndon said that when Feig was caught, she told police that the practice was going on for a year and it was easy for her to steal.

Deputy Public Defender Adriel Menor asked that Feig be given no jail and said probation is sufficient.

He said that Feig knew that there would be impacts beyond her actions.

Feig pleaded no contest to two counts of second-degree theft for two separate incidents, one on March 30 and the other on Jan. 17, both in 2007.

According to court records, one of the victims, a teacher from Missouri, had items including a checkbook, house key and three Kohl's gift cards stolen from her luggage.

She later tracked the gift cards and found they were used by Feig to purchase items over the Internet, and the items were shipped to a Kahului address.

Police also found Feig with jewelry that was taken from a North Dakota woman's suitcase.

The thefts occurred as luggage was being screened behind the airline counters, records show.

* Melissa Tanji can be reached at mtanji@mauinews.com.