CORVALLIS -- In less than 15 minutes, a fierce months-long battle over who owned a dog -- and what should happen to the woman who found the husky-shepherd mix but refused to give him back -- came to an end Friday in a Corvallis courtroom.

-- the 20-year-old college student who fell so in love with the friendly dog that she was willing to risk a jail sentence and criminal record -- pleaded guilty to second-degree theft, a misdemeanor.

The plea agreement came after months of talks between the prosecution and defense.

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Biggs must complete 80 hours of community service, stay away from the dog and admit in writing that Sam Hanson-Fleming of Portland is the dog's true owner. That statement will dissolve Biggs' lawsuit asking a Multnomah County judge to declare her the legal owner. She also must attend a civic responsibility course.

If Biggs completes all terms within six months, a judge will dismiss the case instead of convicting her of a crime.

The deal left the dog's owner disillusioned by the justice system. "She's getting a slap on the wrists," Hanson-Fleming said.

Biggs was treated differently, he said, because she's an Oregon State University student who comes from a family with the means to spend tens of thousands of dollars on a private attorney.

Jordan Biggs with her attorney, Geordie Duckler (left) before Benton County Circuit Judge Locke Williams as she pleads guilty Friday to misdemeanor second-degree theft.

Hanson-Fleming said he had to undergo what he described as seven weeks of an intimidating criminal investigation last year after Biggs claimed he mistreated the dog. Multnomah County prosecutors ultimately decided there wasn't evidence to pursue charges.

Biggs originally was charged with a felony -- first-degree theft -- in Benton County after she wouldn't return the dog. A trial had been set for later this month.

Biggs didn't speak during the hearing before Circuit Judge Locke Williams, except to enter her plea and answer questions about whether she understood the terms.

Afterward, she declined to speak with The Oregonian, but her frustrations with the case were clear. The story last summer made national and even international headlines, with passionate Internet commenters sometimes posting scathing criticism of Biggs.

Her attorney, Geordie Duckler, thanked the District Attorney's Office for negotiating with him and his client. The plea deal represents a radically different outcome than Biggs was facing in July after the director of Multnomah County Animal Services ruled the dog belonged to Hanson-Fleming and a police officer showed up at Biggs' home, arrested her and briefly booked her into jail.

"They were going to teach her a lesson," Duckler said. "It was as hard a line as they would have taken with a guy running drugs."

Hanson-Fleming adopted the dog he named Chase as a puppy. He had the dog for about 16 months when, on March 27, 2011, Chase hopped the backyard fence and ran away.

Biggs, who was visiting Portland the day the dog got away, found the dog and returned to Corvallis with him that same day.

Biggs had the dog for about 13 months when Hanson-Fleming chanced across her and the dog in Southeast Portland last May. Biggs couldn't part with the dog she called Bear despite rulings from Animal Services and later a hearings officer. She filed the civil suit against Hanson-Fleming, seeking ownership of the dog.

Police seized the dog from her in July. Hanson-Fleming got him back in October after he was held at the Oregon Humane Society as evidence in the case.

After Friday's hearing, prosecutor David Amesbury said he was satisfied with the result. "We were gratified we could reunite a man with his dog," he said.

But Carissa Biggs, Jordan Biggs' mother, noted as she left the courthouse with her daughter:

"We wouldn't have shared this moment if he would have chipped his dog."

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