A St. Joseph woman with a lengthy list of priors will serve at least 120 days behind bars for biting a store security officer who caught her shoplifting.

Catherine Wells pleaded guilty in October to a class-b felony charge of second-degree robbery. Court documents asserted that Wells was confronted by a loss-prevention officer outside the JC Penney store at the East Hills Shopping Center August 24. An affidavit states that she had “concealed unpaid items of clothing” and “tried to bite the loss-prevention officer and flee the scene.”

Judge Daniel Kellogg ordered a sentenced of nine years in prison, citing a lengthy record of drug and stealing convictions. Judge Kellogg retains jurisdiction in the case and could place Wells on probation at that time.