A shoplifting suspect will be prosecuted in accordance with the recently enacted Proposition 36.

Imperial County District Attorney George Marquez says that a suspect arrested following a shoplifting incident at Walmart in Brawley will face felony charges. On December 30, 2024, a Brawley Police officer spotted Elijah Perez of Niland walking away from the Walmart store. Store security positively identified Perez as the individual who stole items with a value under $950.00, This typically would have been a misdemeanor prior to the passage of Proposition 36 but it was determined that Perez has two prior theft convictions, one for shoplifting and one for Grand Theft. Because of the prior convictions, Perez was charged with a felony in the latest shoplifting incident. If convicted, Perez could face up to three years in County Jail. Perez was arraigned on Thursday, January 2, 2025 and remains in custody in lieu of $10,000 bail.

District Attorney Marquez said that this is the first time since passage of Prop 36 that someone in Imperial County has been charged under the new law. The local DA's office is working on a pilot program called the Retail Theft Initiative to combat theft crimes in the county.