Following pressure from Southern California prosecutors, Governor Gavin Newsom is advocating for stricter penalties for looting in wildfire evacuation zones, pushing for the crime to be classified as a felony. Newsom emphasized that exploiting vulnerable individuals is unacceptable and will not be tolerated as California battles the ongoing wildfires.

Currently, looting in California is a "wobbler offense," meaning it can be prosecuted as either a misdemeanor or a felony. This allows judges to reduce charges to misdemeanors, even against the wishes of prosecutors. Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman has already filed several felony arson charges in separate cases related to the fires, and authorities have made numerous arrests for looting and arson.

Hochman and Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer jointly requested Newsom to make looting a straight felony, mandating a state prison sentence instead of a county jail term. Newsom is echoing this request to legislators. This proposal aims to strengthen deterrents and ensure harsher consequences for those who exploit disaster situations. Some residents in affected areas have resorted to armed patrols to protect their properties.

Both Hochman and Spitzer expressed their appreciation for Newsom's support, emphasizing the importance of holding looters accountable and protecting those already impacted by the wildfires. The death toll from the fires continues to rise as containment efforts persist.