Judge sentences man to 12-1/2 years for theft of diamond rings

The diamonds disappeared in the time it took Harvey F. Bryant to turn his head.
The man had said he wanted to buy an engagement ring. Several rings sat on the counter from a previous customer. Bryant turned to acknowledge a comment from a repairman who was fixing a leak. The man looking at engagement rings left. When Bryant moved to return the rings to the safe, empty boxes remained where diamonds had been - the largest more than 5 carats, the smallest about 1.5 carats.

Bryant, 87, has owned his shop, Bryant Gemology Laboratory, on Shore Drive for 34 years. Two of the stolen rings had been left with him on consignment and their loss wasn't covered by Bryant's insurance. He paid the owners nearly $33,000 out of his own pocket. The third ring was worth $9,000.

About a month later, the man returned to Bryant's shop. Bryant recognized him immediately and called the police. Bryant made small talk with the man until police arrived.

John F. Dills was charged with grand larceny and pleaded guilty in May 2006. He also pleaded guilty to concealment for taking two bottles of peppermint liqueur from a liquor store in June 2006 - while he was out on bond from the grand larceny charge.

On Friday, Dills appeared in Circuit Court to be sentenced. Judge Junius P. Fulton III ruled that Dills must serve 12-1/2 years in prison for the crimes. Dills apologized to Bryant.

In a written statement to the judge, Bryant explained what he lost that day.

The theft left him disgusted, irritated and angry, he said, as well as subject to questioning by some who felt that he was too trusting and should no longer be working at his age.

"I have always believed in respecting the dignity and trust in people until such time as they become unworthy," Bryant wrote. The theft cost him about a year's profit. "At age 86 now I may not ever recover it."