SAN DIEGO – Former University of San Diego women’s basketball star Dominique Conners, 26, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Michael M. Anello to 90 days house arrest and three years’ probation for thefts she committed at Camp Pendleton in order to fund her gambling addiction. Judge Anello also ordered Conners to pay $11,779 in restitution after she stole the wedding gifts of a newly married couple who were staying at a beach cottage at the Del Mar Beach Resort on Camp Pendleton.
Ms. Conners, a graduate of La Jolla Country Day School, went on to star for the University of San Diego Torreos. Conners, a WNBA draft prospect, also played professional basketball in the Czech Republic. According to court documents and other admissions, her thefts at Camp Pendleton began shortly after she returned to the United States from Europe. Records showed that Ms. Conners was gambling several thousand dollars a week and had access to Camp Pendleton because her father is a retired Marine. Ms. Conners had been ordered to attend counseling for gambling addiction after her arraignment in November 2015.
The victims in this case had just been married and had over $11,000 in cash gifts in their beach cottage. Shoe prints were found on the window sill and a forensic analysis of Ms. Conners’s shoes matched her to the crime scene. One victim stated, “I felt violated and the false sense of security (on a military installation) was overwhelming.” Another victim said, “She stole a large sum of money from us. Money that was to help start our new life together after we got married.”
The Marine Corps Criminal Investigations Division (CID) conducted the investigation. The victims were able to recover their lost property.
CID also linked Ms. Conners to several other vehicle thefts. In those cases, Ms. Conners stole cash and gift cards from unlocked vehicles at the beach, but left the wallets and other personal items behind. Ms. Conners was ordered to pay restitution for those thefts as well.
