ST. LOUIS, Missouri, August 25, 2009 (AFP) - An American judge sentenced the ex-fiancee of National Basketball Association star Dirk Nowitzki to five years in jail in connection with a forgery and theft case, the American media reported.

Cristal Taylor, who claims to be pregnant with Nowitzki's child, appeared in front of judge Nancy Schneider on Monday wearing a baggy orange prison suit, The Dallas Morning News reported.

The 38-year-old Taylor was initially charged with three counts as part of an ongoing theft and forgery case.

Taylor was handed a five-year concurrent sentence but the judge reduced it to four years because of the probation time already served, the newspaper said.

Court documents obtained by the paper indicated Taylor was in a relationship with Dallas Mavericks player Nowitzki but he dumped her after the police showed up at their house to arrest her. While she didn't mention Nowitzki by name, she clearly referred to him in her written pleas to the judge.

"I was engaged to a great man," Taylor had written to the judge. "I paid the ultimate price for my past.

"When I got arrested at our home and the media got a hold of my story, the love of my life left me. I can't say I blame him. It's not like I was worthy of him giving me a chance."

Germany's Nowitzki did not return phone calls on Monday.

He said earlier during the NBA playoffs that he didn't think his personal life to be a distraction to his career.

"It is pretty obvious that I am going through a tough time in my personal life right now," Nowitzki said.

"I want to keep my private life private."

American legal experts estimate that with time off for good behavior, Taylor could end up only having to serve just 14 months of her sentence.