California looters now face hard-charging consequences after blue state abandoned soft-on-crime approach

Amid the continuing unrest and flash mob-style looting incidents in Los Angeles, California is making a significant pivot toward tougher criminal enforcement.Criminal defense attorney David Wohl told Fox News Digital that the legal consequences are no longer a slap on the wrist for looters following the reversal of Proposition 47, which notably did not criminalize theft under $950.“Now we have a very conservative, hard-charging DA in Los Angeles,” Wohl said.“He’s adding up what is stolen by each individual co-defendant, and if that’s over $950, everybody’s getting charged with felonies.” In a city once known for turning a blind eye to petty theft and soft prosecution, looters who are taking advantage of protests over federal immigration operations now face stricter penalties.In 2014, California voters approved Proposition 47, a ballot initiative that reclassified several nonviolent felonies, including shoplifting, theft and drug possession, as misdemeanors if the value involved was $950 or less.Supporters argued the measure would reduce prison overcrowding and redirect state funds to additional programming.Critics argued that it contributed to a noticeable increase in retail theft and emboldened looters.In 2024, voters voiced their concerns and overwhelmingly chose a sharp course correction from the progressive reforms that Proposition 47 implemented and voted in favor of Proposition 36.Prop 36 restored the ability to file felony charges against repeat offenders, regardless of whether their latest crime falls under the $950 limit.It also enhances penalties for group theft and organized looting, which had previously fallen into legal gray zones under Prop 47.The shift stems from a growing rejection of the previous criminal justice model championed by former District Attorney George Gascon, who Wohl described as “more liberal than a lot of public defenders.” Under Gascon’s leadership, prosecution was often delayed or diminished, with an emphas...