Sean Michael Pelton will pay a heavy price for his catalytic converter theft spree in Visalia in 2020 and 2021.

The 53-year-old Sacramento man was sentenced to 15 years in prison and ordered to pay $133,000 restitution on Thursday in Tulare County Superior Court.

Pelton was convicted of the thefts in November 2024.

In addition, Pelton was sentenced to 20 non-concurrent months in three additional cases for similar crimes in Amador, Sacramento, and Fresno counties. Restitution was ordered at $236,031.44
in those cases.

“Let this sentence serve as a warning to other would-be thieves,” said Tulare County District Attorney Tim Ward in a statement. “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.”

About the Thefts

In three separate thefts from March 2020 to September 2020, and an additional theft in July 2021, Pelton targeted utility trucks in the AT&T service yard in northeast Visalia. Using bolt cutters to cut holes in the yard’s security fence, Pelton stole 73 converters.

The company said that the thefts greatly impacted the company’s fleet, preventing technicians from reaching customers. Each converter cost the company more than $1,000. Visalia police used surveillance video, geo-fencing data, and hotel and cell phone records to identify Pelton.

Pelton had more than 20 prior felony convictions — largely for theft, burglary, and vandalism — throughout California.

Assistant District Attorney Sean Sangree prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the Visalia Police Department.