A sentencing hearing for a man who pleaded guilty to theft in connection with a nine-county theft ring has been continued to later this month — after his attorney asked for more time to compile a sentencing memorandum.

Michael Jenkins, 32, of Marion, pleaded guilty to a charge of money laundering, which is a third-degree felony, and two counts of theft, both fifth-degree felonies, at a hearing in January and was scheduled to be sentenced Monday.

However, his attorney, Dominic Mango, asked for a continuance after his client was recently hospitalized and then transferred to the Marion County Jail. Mango said he needed a short continuance to finish working on a sentencing memorandum.

The hearing was rescheduled to Feb. 22 at 2:30 p.m.

Jenkins confessed in January and said that he would go to various retail stores, like Kroger, and fill shopping carts up with small but valuable items, like laundry pods or candy, and then leave the store without paying. He told Delaware County Common Pleas Judge Everett Krueger that he would take the items to Philip Burkholder, in Forest, Ohio, who would then sell the stolen goods at auction.

The theft ring stole from stores in nine counties, including Delaware.

Burkholder, the three ring leaders in the case and another thief are scheduled to be sentenced on March 15. They pleaded guilty recently after reaching agreements with prosecutors.