Placerville – On December 28, 2024, Steven Lowell Stafford, a 65-year-old resident of Placerville, was arrested for petty theft at The Gym, located at 20240 State Highway 18 in Apple Valley. Stafford allegedly took merchandise without payment and, upon exiting, drove toward deputies present in the parking lot. Deputy J. Chapdelaine conducted the investigation leading to Stafford’s arrest.
Stafford was booked into the High Desert Detention Center for petty theft and had an outstanding arrest warrant from a prior case. He is held on $30,000 bail for the petty theft charge and $200,000 for the warrant.
This incident follows the enactment of Proposition 36, “The Homelessness, Drug Addiction, and Theft Reduction Act,” approved by California voters on November 5, 2024, and effective December 18, 2024. The proposition amends laws to address concerns related to homelessness, drug addiction, and theft, introducing Penal Code section 666.1, which establishes a new felony offense for individuals committing petty theft or shoplifting with two or more prior theft-related convictions.
Proposition 36 allows felony charges for thefts under $950 if the individual has two prior theft convictions, aiming to deter repeat offenders and reduce retail theft.
Law enforcement officials now have enhanced tools to address repeat theft offenses, reflecting a shift from the 2014 Proposition 47, which had reduced certain theft and drug crimes from felonies to misdemeanors.
Community members with information about this investigation are encouraged to contact Deputy J. Chapdelaine at the Apple Valley Sheriff’s Station at (760) 240-7400 or Sheriff’s Dispatch at (760) 956-5001. Anonymous tips can be submitted via the We-Tip Hotline at 1-800-78CRIME (27463) or through the We-Tip website at www.wetip.com.
California Voters Approved Proposition 36 to Address Rising Theft Rates
