BRENTWOOD — A Derry man, who conspired with a store employee in the theft of 12 cellphones and more than $13,000 in cash from a Verizon Go Wireless store, recevied a 1-to-3 year state prison sentence.

Wayne Thompson, 26, of Derry pleaded guilty to theft by unauthorized taking and solicitation to commit criminal mischief on Monday as part of an agreement struck with prosecutors.

Thompson was indicted along with the store employee, Janeen Harring, 26, of Derry on felony theft charges for ransacking the Verizon Go wireless store, located at 55 Crystal Ave. #2, last May 25.

Roughly $4,745 in phones and other merchandise was stolen, along with a deposit box with $13,652 in cash, according to court records.

Harring received a suspended 12-month jail term in July after pleading guilty to felony theft and identity fraud.

Prosecutors say Thompson came up with the plan to make the store appear it had been burglarized the night after Harring worked and closed the store.

Derry police were called in to investigate after a store employee found a door to the business open the morning after the theft.

Harring at first only told police she worked at the store the night before the burglary. Derry police eventually obtained a confession from her that implicated Thompson, according to a police affidavit.

Thompson approached Harring about stealing from the store while she was working that night, police said.

“Harring said the plan was not hers and she just kind of went with it,” police Det. Scott Tompkins said in a sworn affidavit.

Thompson came in just before closing time. He and Harring loaded the cell phones and a deposit box into trash bags, the affidavit said. They loaded the trash bags into Harring’s car, police said.

Thompson could have faced up to 7 ½-to-15 years in state prison had he been convicted at trial. He and Harring are required to pay restitution to Verizon as part of their sentences.

jkimble@newstote.com