On Friday, four people found out the hard way what happens when you shoptlift in Irvine, when they were arrested minutes after one of them stole wine from Target on Barranca, according to the Irvine Police Department.
One of the suspects dropped a hand basket of wine when they were confronted by security.
The suspects were all caught in their vehicle after a police pursuit.
- Khoa Dang Huynh, 31, of Santa Ana, was arrested for petty theft with a prior and narcotics violations.
- Tuan Hoang Luu, 51, of Garden Grove, was arrested for narcotics violations.
- Charles Michael Fiel, 38, of Garden Grove, was taken into custody for violating the terms of his probation.
- The IPD assisted Lan Nguyen, 51, of Westminster, in resolving her outstanding warrant.
The suspects arrested by the Irvine Police Department for shoplifting at the Target face potential penalties under updated California laws, including Proposition 36, which took effect on December 18, 2024.
The specific potential penalties for each suspect are as follows:
- Khoa Dang Huynh (Santa Ana): Arrested for petty theft with a prior and narcotics violations.
- Petty Theft with a Prior: Under Penal Code 666.1 (newly established by Prop 36), petty theft with two or more prior theft convictions is a “wobbler,” meaning it can be charged as a felony or a misdemeanor. A felony conviction can lead to up to 3 years in jail or state prison.
- Narcotics Violations: Simple possession of most controlled substances remains a misdemeanor punishable by up to 1 year in county jail. However, Prop 36 also introduced a new “wobbler” for possession of “hard drugs” (like methamphetamine or fentanyl) for those with two prior drug convictions, which can now be charged as a felony.
- Tuan Hoang Luu (Garden Grove): Arrested for narcotics violations.
- Standard misdemeanor possession typically carries a penalty of up to 1 year in county jail and/or a $1,000 fine. If the violation involves possession with intent to sell (a felony), the penalty increases to 2 to 4 years in state prison.
- Charles Michael Fiel (Garden Grove): Taken into custody for violating probation.
- A judge at a probation violation hearing may revoke, modify, or extend probation. If revoked, Fiel could be ordered to serve the remainder of his original suspended sentence in jail or prison.
- Lan Nguyen (Westminster): Assisted in resolving an outstanding warrant.
- Penalties for an outstanding warrant depend entirely on the underlying charge for which the warrant was issued. She was likely taken into custody to be brought before a judge for that specific matter.