For San Bernardino County, Proposition 36's impact on the legal system was swiftly felt at a Target store in Rancho Cucamonga. According to the SBSD Rancho Cucamonga Police Department, deputies arrested 36-year-old Damien Gonzalez on December 30, 2024, after he allegedly attempted to steal various items including food, a soft drink, and a jacket from the retailer.
The incident, occurring shortly after the passage of the proposition dubbed “The Homelessness, Drug Addiction and Theft Reduction Act,” was a practical application of the newly minted Penal Codes resulting from the voters’ decision. With a history of similar theft convictions, Gonzalez now faces an enhanced charge of PC 666.1, Petty Theft with Two Prior Convictions, as detailed by the SBSD Rancho Cucamonga Police Department.
Gonzalez was booked into the West Valley Detention Center and anyone with additional information regarding this case has been urged to contact the Rancho Cucamonga Police Department directly or anonymously through the We-Tip Hotline.
