A thief caught with more than 900 stolen credit card numbers from Eagle Crest Resort visitors was sentenced on Friday to 3 years in prison.

Michael Lee Hanson, 24, was sentenced after he pleaded guilty to 48 counts of identity theft, one count of first-degree theft and fraudulent use of a credit card.

Hanson agreed to plead guilty to the charges in exchange for the District Attorneys Office making 47 of his sentences concurrent.

At maximum, Hanson was facing hundreds of years behind bars and more than $4 million in fines, said his attorney, Brendon Alexander.

Hanson, who appeared in standard, blue jail garb at the sentencing, declined to speak when given the opportunity by the judge.

Hanson is a former employee at Eagle Crest and was able to access people’s names, addresses, telephone numbers and credit card numbers through the resorts telemarketing operation, which sells time shares.

Hanson was caught when a victim realized his credit card was used to buy a laptop computer in July at Staples and was sent to an address in Redmond, said Deputy District Attorney Mary Anderson.

Redmond Police were able to track the purchase to Hanson. Police then discovered the other stolen information.

Anderson said Hanson purchased the computer in order to organize the stolen credit card information.

But Redmond police Detective Chris Salsberry and Deschutes County Parole and Probation Officer Terry Chubb were able to get to Hanson before he perpetrated additional crimes.

Hanson is a repeat offender with numerous convictions of theft, forgery and unlawful entry into a motor vehicle dating back to 1997.

”I’ve sent you to prison before, and I’m sending you again,” Deschutes County Circuit Judge Michael Sullivan told Hanson at the sentencing. ”I hope you learn something this time around. Every new property crime you commit from now on means a mandatory prison sentence.”

Sullivan then sentenced Hanson to 3 years in prison and ordered him to complete 18 months of probation, notify all his future employees of his criminal record and complete a parenting class.

Hanson’s girlfriend is pregnant and is expected to give birth in March, said Hanson’s attorney.

Sullivan also recommended that Hanson complete a boot camp program while in prison and ordered he submit to DNA testing and polygraphs upon his probation officer’s request.

After the sentencing, prosecutor Anderson said it was lucky more people were not hurt in the crime.

She said anyone with a credit card should scour their statements for unauthorized charges and get annual credit reports to ensure no one is stealing from them.

Tom Peterson can be reached at 541-383-0304 or tpeterson@bendbulletin.com