Bobbitt pleads guilty to felony charge

Bobbitt, 32, who gained notoriety in 1993 when his then-wife, Lorena, cut off his penis, faces up to five years in prison and a $10,000 fine when he's sentenced Sept. 14 in Churchill District Court.

Bobbitt entered the plea last week as part of a plea bargain. In return, prosecutors agreed to cap his restitution at $5,000 and to drop felony theft and conspiracy to commit theft charges against him.

Five co-defendants, including two Bobbitt cousins, accepted a similar plea bargain and entered pleas with him.

Bobbitt and the five were among 10 people accused of taking more than $140,000 worth of clothing from the store in 1997. At least two store employees also were implicated in the thefts at The Hub, which has since closed.

Police said the 10 worked in tandem, with the employees giving away clothing to others.

Prosecutors disputed Bobbitt's claim that he was unaware the clothing hadn't been paid for. He is accused of taking more than $2,500 in clothing.

"Every time he went into that store - and he went in at least five times - he went in with the intent to commit the crime of theft," Deputy District Attorney Will Mattly said.

Charges are pending against the other four defendants.

Bobbitt twice was jailed on charges that he beat up Kristina Elliott, a former topless dancer who was his fiancee while he was living in Las Vegas.

He left Las Vegas in 1997 to start a new life in Fallon, a farm town 60 miles east of Reno.

But Bobbitt said he now is living in New York to be close to his parents.

He said he quit his job as a bartender at the Moonlight Bunny Ranch in March after his request for a raise was rejected. The brothel near Carson City is legal under state law.

"Once you work for a brothel, they think they own you," he said.

He hinted he's starting an Internet mail order business, but declined to say what he plans to sell.

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