A former personal assistant to Hawai'i businessman Thurston Twigg-Smith and his wife, Sharon, was sentenced to 10 years in prison this week for stealing more than $329,000 from the couple.

Holly Green, 45, had sought a deferred acceptance of her guilty plea in the case, a legal arrangement which results in no criminal record for the defendant.

But Circuit Judge Karen Ahn rejected that request and sentenced the defendant to serve up to 10 years in prison for the crimes, which occurred over a 30-month period beginning in July 2004.

Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Christopher Van Marter asked for the 10-year term. He said Green forged some 46 checks and used the money to pay off credit card bills.

Green had five personal credit cards and was averaging charges of about $7,000 per month on them, according to the prosecutor.

Thurston Twigg-Smith is the former owner of The Advertiser.

Green pleaded guilty last year to one count of theft and 46 counts of forgery.

Through her attorney, Donald Wilkerson, Green tried to give a $5,000 partial restitution check to Van Marter in court but the prosecutor said he couldn't accept it and turned the check over to the court clerk.

Ahn scheduled another hearing in April to determine the precise amount of money which Green must pay in restitution.

The Hawaii Paroling Authority will decide later how much prison time Green must serve before becoming eligible for parole.