Tiffany L. Bauer, who, with her former boyfriend, carried out a series of burglaries in the fall of 2014 to support their addiction to heroin, was sentenced to three years in prison Wednesday despite the pleas of attorneys and family members, who said she is a good person who did bad things.

Bauer, 22, had pleaded guilty in New London Superior Court to third-degree burglary, two counts of first-degree larceny and third-degree assault of an elderly victim.

Bauer had accepted a plea deal involving a sentence of 10 years in prison, suspended after three years served, followed by five years probation.

According to the state, she and 32-year-old Craig Daignault carried out a series of daytime burglaries in East Lyme, Lyme, Old Lyme and Salem in September 2014, pawning the stolen electronics, silver and jewelry for pennies on the dollar.  

She later told police she and Daignault, who she said introduced her to drugs and came up with the idea of committing burglaries, were injecting 10 to 20 bags of heroin a day.

She provided police with a full confession after entering treatment. 

On Sept. 17, 2014, Daignault and Bauer were attempting to break into a home on Jericho Drive in Old Lyme when the elderly couple who lived there arrived home. 

Daignault fled into the woods after the homeowners blocked Bauer's car in the driveway.

Bauer got into the victims' car, which was still running, and started to reverse with the driver's side door open, striking the couple and causing them to fall to the ground. The couple refused medical treatment.

One of the burglary victims, David Zupnik of Salem, said he remains angry and called for a more severe punishment.

"In my experience, people who have been burglars and stolen goods will go back to it right after they get out of jail," said Zupnik, who said he has a background in law enforcement.

Prosecutor Lawrence Tytla said Bauer was lucky the Old Lyme incident did not result in a serious injury or death.

"Giving weight to her addiction and her efforts to deal with it, while also giving weight to the impact on the victims, I think the agreement we have worked out is an appropriate one," Tytla said.

Attorney W. Theodore Koch II called on Bauer's family members and fellow attorney Sean Kelly to help persuade the judge that Bauer deserved a break because of her age, her cooperation and the progress she has made in recovery. 

Bauer begged the victims to forgive her while acknowledging she understands their anger.

"To know I could steal someone's things that are irreplaceable is absolutely horrible," she said, crying.  

Judge Hillary B. Strackbein imposed the full sentence, noting that after Bauer completed inpatient rehabilitation, she had tested positive for cocaine and been sent back to prison.

She said three years is not an excessive sentence, and that Bauer would have her whole life to make up for it. 

Daignault also faces a three-year prison term when he is sentenced on Feb. 9.

k.florin@theday.com

Twitter: @KFLORIN