HONOLULU -- A Circuit Court judge on Tuesday sentenced a woman to 10 years in prison for stealing more than $300,000 from former newspaper owner Thurston Twigg-Smith.

The defendant hoped to avoid prison and a criminal record.

Retired newspaper publisher Twigg-Smith and his wife lost $329,326 over a period of 30 months. Private assistant Holly Green spent the money.

"She was lying, cheating and stealing huge amounts of money from us while she looked at me every day in the eye pretending to be my friend. It actually made me physically sick," Sharon Twigg-Smith said.

Green's lawyer said that because she had no prior record she should get probation and a chance to keep the crime off her record.

"Please for my daughter and my family and their future, please do not take me away from my family," Green said.

Green apologized to the Twigg-Smiths and said she never planned to deceive them.

It is not unusual for embezzlement defendants to get short sentences. What often makes a difference, and did in this case, was how the defendant used the stolen money, KITV reported.

Green claimed the average $8,000 per month was to pay for rent and other necessities. However, Sharon Twigg-Smith found otherwise.

"There're trips to Disneyland. There're family vacations. There are parties for 100 people at Halloween every year," Sharon Twigg-Smith said.

"I did have a Halloween party. It was for kids and I did take my daughter to Disneyland, but that would have happened anyway," Green said.

"I have to sentence you in count one to 10 years in jail, and on all the other counts to five years in jail," the judge said.

The Twigg-Smiths said they are sad about the situation. They said they hope the prison time will deter other potential thieves.