Former America's Next Top Model finalist Renee Alway sentenced to 12 years in prison for armed burglary, fraud and drug possession

  • Renee Diane Alway, 28, pleaded guilty to four felony burglary counts and one count each of vehicle theft and being a felon in possession of a firearm
  • The ANTM finalist was arrested on June 28 in 2013 for investigation of burglary, fraud, narcotics possession, and committing a felony while on bail 
  • Alway shaved her head for her court appearance last year and told her sister it was because she wanted to 'start over'
  • Alway finished in the top three of Cycle 8 of 'Top Model,' which aired in 2007

By Alexandra Klausner for MailOnline

Published: 17:52 EST, 10 December 2014 | Updated: 18:23 EST, 10 December 2014

A former America's Next Top Model (ANTM) finalist was sentenced to 12 years in prison on Wednesday after pleading guilty to various criminal charges. She was also ordered to pay $58,679.58 in damages to her victims.

Renee Diane Alway, 28, pleaded guilty to to four felony burglary counts and one count each of vehicle theft and being a felon in possession of a firearm.

Alway also pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor count of identity theft for various crimes in Palm Springs in June 2013, reports News Channel 3. 

SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO 

In court today: Renee Diane Alway, 28, was sentenced to 12 years in prison on Wednesday after pleading guilty to various criminal charges and sported more hair than she did during her court appearance last year 
In court today: Renee Diane Alway, 28, was sentenced to 12 years in prison on Wednesday after pleading guilty to various criminal charges and sported more hair than she did during her court appearance last year

In court today: Renee Diane Alway, 28, was sentenced to 12 years in prison on Wednesday after pleading guilty to various criminal charges and sported more hair than she did during her court appearance last year 

Downward spiral: Renee Diane Alway pictured in 2007 (left) and in her mug shot last year (right) turned to a life of crime after the show aired and she did not win the title 

Last year: Troubled America's Next Top Model finalist Renee Alway shaved her head for her 2013 court appearance after her burglary arrest

Last year: Troubled America's Next Top Model finalist Renee Alway shaved her head for her 2013 court appearance after her burglary arrest

Alway was dismissed of more than a dozen other counts under a plea agreement.

Some of those counts were resisting an officer, possession of a controlled substance, and receiving stolen property.

The Desert Sun reports that Alway has been in custody since last year at the Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility on $150,000 bail.

The ANTM finalist was arrested on June 28 in 2013 for investigation of burglary, fraud, narcotics possession, committing a felony while on bail and other charges, the Palm Springs Police Department said in a statement at the time of the arrest.

Officers responding to a report of a suspicious woman walking around a neighborhood spotted a condominium with an open back door, police said.

Neighbors told officers the residents were out of the country and Alway was found hiding in the garage allegedly armed with a gun, police said.

Authorities believed an armed man also was in the condo and the SWAT team was called in for the ensuing six-hour standoff.

When Alway appeared before a judge last year she shaved her head for her court appearance in Palm Springs where she was given a drug evaluation. 

Her sister told TMZ after the 2013 court appearance that her sister wanted to 'start over' and that's why she chose to shave her head.

Alway finished in the top three of Cycle 8 of 'Top Model,' which aired in 2007.

Guilty: Alway (pictured last year) will serve 12 years in prison for various burglaries and thefts in Florida 

Guilty: Alway (pictured last year) will serve 12 years in prison for various burglaries and thefts in Florida 

Cycle 8: Alway finished in the top three of Cycle 8 of 'Top Model,' which aired in 2007 and is pictured here standing next to the supermodel host of the show Tyra Banks 

Cycle 8: Alway finished in the top three of Cycle 8 of 'Top Model,' which aired in 2007 and is pictured here standing next to the supermodel host of the show Tyra Banks 

 

Comments (107)

Share what you think

 View all

The comments below have not been moderated.

The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline.

We are no longer accepting comments on this article.

Who is this week's top commenter? Find out now