Last Tuesday, during a hockey game at Great Park Ice, wallets and personal items were stolen from a locker room, according to the Irvine Police Department.
The stolen credit cards were later used at nearby stores.
Thanks to teamwork with the Real Time Crime Center, the police officers identified the suspect’s vehicle.
Detectives later arrested Blake Andrew Nichols, 37, of Orange.
Nichols was promptly sent to the penalty box at the Orange County Jail on charges of burglary, identity theft, and possession of narcotics.
The stolen wallets and other items were recovered and returned to their rightful owners.
Reminder: enable text and email alerts on your credit cards to stay one step ahead of fraud.
Penalties Faced by the Suspect
In 2026, Blake Andrew Nichols faces significant legal penalties for multiple charges related to the locker room theft. Under California law, many of these offenses are “wobblers,” meaning they can be prosecuted as either misdemeanors or felonies depending on his criminal history and the specific circumstances of the case.
The potential penalties for each charge include:
- Second-Degree Burglary (Commercial Burglary): Since the theft occurred in a non-residential structure (a sports facility), it is classified as second-degree burglary.
- Felony: 16 months, 2 years, or 3 years in county jail and fines up to $10,000.
- Misdemeanor: Up to one year in county jail and/or a fine of up to $1,000.
- Identity Theft: This charge covers the fraudulent use of stolen credit cards.
- Felony: Up to 3 years in state prison or county jail and a maximum fine of $10,000.
- Misdemeanor: Up to one year in county jail and a fine of up to $1,000.
- Note: Each individual use of a stolen card can be charged as a separate count.
- Possession of Narcotics:
- Misdemeanor: Typically punishable by up to one year in county jail and a $1,000 fine.
- Felony (Aggravated): Under Proposition 36 (effective in 2026), defendants with two or more prior drug convictions can be charged with a “treatment-mandated felony” for possessing hard drugs like fentanyl, cocaine, or methamphetamine, which carries up to 3 years of incarceration if treatment is not completed.
Total Exposure
If convicted on all counts as felonies, Nichols could face several years of incarceration. Under 2026 sentencing guidelines (Prop 36), repeat offenders for theft and drug crimes face increased mandatory prison time and reclassification of misdemeanors to felonies.