Dean Mitchell Gouveia, 48, of Waimanalo is already facing a five-year sentence for felony second-degree and misdemeanor third-degree theft stemming from an October conviction unrelated to the alleged jewelry theft.

An attempt by prosecutors to empanel a jury to hear motions on extended sentencing for Gouveia as a repeat offender was denied in October by a judge, who continued sentencing for Gouveia to allow him to have surgery for a medical condition.

Gouveia, who has 66 prior convictions dating back to July 1981 and 153 arrests, was to have been sentenced yesterday for the October convictions.

Instead, he was charged by information with first-degree theft for allegedly stealing a display case containing 72-80 pieces of bridge diamond jewelry valued at $150 to $390 each from Macy's fine jewelry store at Kahala Mall on Nov. 13.

Charging by information bypasses the probable-cause charging process that requires an initial appearance and preliminary hearing at District Court. Gouveia's bail is $20,000. He will be arraigned at Circuit Court on a date not yet determined.

Gouveia can be released if he makes bail; otherwise he will be sent to the O'ahu Community Correctional Center.

Gouveia was identified as a suspect in the Macy's case by surveillance videotapes, police said.

The tapes showed Gouveia entering Macy's and distracting a salesperson, who was looking for a jewelry piece for him in the stockroom, according to a court affidavit. He allegedly cut the cable on a display case with a utility tool and walked out of the store while the salesperson was still away.

The videotapes allegedly captured Gouveia placing the jewelry case in the bed of his pickup truck, parked near the entry/exit glass doors to the store, and driving off.

The surveillance tapes provided police with the license number of the truck, which is registered to Gouveia.