CASSOPOLIS — In what could be described as a case of karmic justice, a Battle Creek man was arrested after unwittingly attempting to sell a piece of stolen jewelry back to the person from whom it was stolen.

Brandon Derushia, who was sentenced in Cass County Circuit Court Friday to a year in jail, said he bought a bag of jewelry from two people on the side of the road in Decatur.

Derushia then attempted to sell items from that bag of jewelry at Vincent J Jewelers in Dowagiac on June 8, 2012.

A female salesman immediately recognized the items as jewelry stolen from her home days earlier and called police.

A search of Derushia’s car produced burglary tools and more stolen jewelry.

Derushia pleaded guilty in December to two felony counts of possession of burglary tools and receiving and concealing stolen property.

Derushia said in court Friday he did not steal the jewelry, reiterating he bought it on the roadside in Decatur.

“I don’t believe that for a Battle Creek minute,” said Cass County Prosecutor Victor Fitz.

The victim’s home on Twin Lakes Road was broken into on June 6.

Judge Michael Dodge, who handed down the sentence, said the insurance company had already paid out $40,000 in claims resulting from the break-in.

The victim spoke prior to sentencing, saying her life had been turned upside down by the incident.

In addition to the yearlong sentence, Derushia was placed on two years probation. He gets credit for 138 days served.

A hearing has been set to determine restitution.