A 25-year-old woman is headed to prison for pepper-spraying a Southeast Portland husband and wife after they confronted her about stealing items from their yard sale.

Katelyn Elizabeth Cantrell was stuffing clothes into her bag in full view of the couple. When they asked her to stop, she doused them with pepper spray and chased the husband with a knife, prosecutors said.

Investigators said Cantrell stopped only when the couple’s adult son retrieved a shotgun from the house and pointed it at her.

The family called 911, and Cantrell was arrested a short distance from the home in the Lents neighborhood, near Southeast 96th Avenue and Harold Street, on May 12.

Cantrell on Wednesday pleaded no contest to unlawful use of a weapon and fourth-degree assault. Multnomah County Circuit Judge Angel Lopez sentenced her to 19 months.

Deputy District Attorney Shawn Overstreet said he hopes the case serves as a wake-up call to Cantrell, who has a history of lashing out at others.

“I hope that Ms. Cantrell hears that this could have been much worse,” Overstreet said. “She could have been shot, possibly justifiably.”

Overstreet said given Cantrell’s history, his office was unwilling to agree to probation as part of her plea deal.

“Right now, Ms. Cantrell is a danger to this community,” Overstreet said.

Overstreet referenced a few recent arrests, including one on allegations that Cantrell quarreled with a Subway sandwich employee, then punched the employee. Prosecutors didn't file charges in the cases.

Cantrell has been convicted of resisting arrest, attempted assault on a public safety officer and interfering with a public safety officer in the past, court records show. Police said she kicked police and tried to bribe them after they arrested her for allegedly stealing from a shed belonging to her father. Her mother also acquired a no-contact order against her, according to court records.

Cantrell was homeless at the time of her most recent arrests. She has told authorities she’s a methamphetamine user and has asked for treatment at times. But court records state that she also has shunned the idea of treatment or holding down a job, telling authorities, “I don’t agree with societal rules and (expletive). I’m ... born to be a camper.”

Wednesday, the judge told Cantrell that she needs to find a new direction for her life.

“You absolutely terrorized a family for no reason -- other than you were in some kind of drug delirium,” Lopez said. “That’s got to stop.”

-- Aimee Green

agreen@oregonian.com