REDWOOD CITY —— A Compton man who was part of an identity theft ring that stole thousands of dollars in merchandise and gift cards from area stores with fraudulent credit cards was sentenced to a year in jail today, officials said.

However, because San Mateo County Judge James Ellis gave Corderell McKnight, 19, credit for the time he has served since his arrest in March, the man will be out of jail by next week, said defense attorney Jeff Jackson. As part of an agreement with prosecutors, McKnight pleaded no contest to a series of charges including forgery and grand theft.

"He pleaded to a representative number of his charges and it's quite a potpourri, I might add," said Assistant District Attorney Karen Guidotti.

Officials say McKnight, along with Deandre McLaine, 27, of Paramount and a 17-year-old girl, drove up from Los Angeles stopping along the way to open credit accounts at stores with stolen personal information. They would then spend up to the cards' limits on clothes and gift cards.

The 17-year-old was caught at Kohl's department store in Colma trying to use one of the cards. Police caught McKnight and McLaine in a car outside the store with a note book containing names, social security numbers and other stolen personal information.

"I've seen people that are more remorseful for what they've done than him," said Jackson. "He served his time and he just wants to move on with his life."

McLaine, who