Sacramento Man Sentenced to 15 Years for Catalytic Converter Thefts in Visalia
VISALIA, CA — A Sacramento man has been sentenced to 15 years in custody following a conviction for a series of catalytic converter thefts in Visalia. On January 29, 2025, the Tulare County Superior Court handed down the sentence to 53-year-old Sean Michael Pelton, who was also ordered to pay restitution for the damages caused by the thefts.
According to the Tulare County District Attorney’s Office, Pelton was convicted in November 2024 for multiple thefts of catalytic converters from utility trucks in the AT&T service yard in northeast Visalia. The thefts occurred in four separate instances between March 2020 and July 2021. In each case, Pelton used bolt cutters to breach the yard’s security fence before stealing a total of 73 catalytic converters. These thefts disrupted the company’s fleet operations, preventing technicians from reaching customers. Each stolen converter cost the company more than $1,000.
Pelton’s conviction includes 73 counts of grand theft, three counts of attempted grand theft, and four counts of vandalism. Additionally, the jury found true the aggravating factors that the crimes involved planning and sophistication, as well as the theft of high-value property. Pelton admitted to having prior convictions and prison terms, as well as being on parole or probation at the time of the offenses.
Mugshot & Evidence Photo- Courtesy of Tulare County District Attorney’s Office
District Attorney Tim Ward emphasized the impact of these crimes on the community, stating, “Although the crime itself may be considered ‘non-violent’ by our legislature, my office will recognize these impacts to our community and will do everything in our power to ensure this career criminal and anyone who would follow in his footsteps are removed from society and not able to re-victimize.”
Pelton, who has over 20 prior felony convictions for theft, burglary, and vandalism across California, was identified following an extensive investigation by the Visalia Police Department. Investigators utilized surveillance footage, geofence data, and hotel and cell phone records to link him to the crimes.
In addition to the 15-year sentence, Pelton was ordered to pay $132,993.68 in restitution for the Visalia thefts. He was also sentenced to 20 non-concurrent months in three additional cases involving similar offenses in Amador, Sacramento, and Fresno counties, with an additional restitution order of $236,031.44. His sentence will be served in Tulare County under AB 109 provisions.
