In my every-growing portfolio of politician theft, California provides yet another example. In this case, however, there is a little twist, namely the alibi the politician used.

A California lawmaker pleaded no contest to stealing leather pants and other merchandise from a Neiman Marcus store in an incident her attorney blamed on a benign brain tumor. This according to the Monterey Herald.

Assemblywoman Mary Hayashi, a democrat from Castro Valley, was arrested Oct. 23 after surveillance cameras showed her walking out the doors with un-purchased merchandise in her shopping bag. The good were worth approximately $2,500.

Restraining Order

Hayashi was sentenced to three years of probation, ordered her to pay $180 in fines and court costs, and told her to stay at least 50 feet away from the Neiman Marcus store.

The 44-year-old Hayashi was diagnosed with a benign brain tumor and claims that affected her concentration and judgment and contributed to the shoplifting incident.

Hayashi has no plans to resign from office. Even if she had been convicted of a felony, she would have lost her pay but not necessarily her job in the Legislature.

Hayashi happens to be married to Alameda County Superior Court Judge Dennis Hayashi, and has represented Castro Valley since 2006 but can't run for re-election because she is termed out of office after this year.

Prosecutors said they agreed to reduce the charge to a misdemeanor because Hayashi was willing to enter the no-contest plea and had no prior criminal record.

She is a first-time offender with no criminal record. Because of this, combined with her plea, prosecutors only sought misdemeanor charges against her.

Did she get a slap on the wrist because of who she is and is married to? The answer cannot be determined, but that is probably the case.

Either way, she appears committed to staying on the straight and narrow, even if she used a crazy alibi. I would like to see her take a theft class and seek counseling to make sure she does not steal again.