Man charged with drug possession now ‘facing consequences’ of recently passed Prop 36: SBSD 

The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department is continuing to remind residents of the effects of the recently passed Proposition 36 after a man was arrested on narcotics possession charges early Friday morning. 

Prop 36, officially titled The Homelessness, Drug Addiction and Theft Reduction Act, was passed by voters by a wide margin in November and went into effect on Dec. 18. Among other things, it includes several new charges, including enhanced sentencing and statutes that can prevent certain offenders from being cited and released prior to their court appearance. 

After the legislation was went into effect, law enforcement agencies across the region have used several methods to get the word out about the consequences, including releasing a video that shows suspects discussing the new law from the back of a police car late last month. 

A more recent incident involving the new consequences of Prop 36 occurred just before 9 a.m. Friday when a 54-year-old Apple Valley resident was contacted by deputies in the area of Bear Valley Road and Algonquin Road.

The man, John Michael Laughlin, was found to be in possession of illegal narcotics and arrested, the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department stated.

He was booked into the High Desert Detention Center on drug possession charges with previous a previous conviction and traffic warrants. He is being held in lieu of $30,000 bail. 

Anyone with any information about this investigation is asked to contact Deputy E. Natty with Apple Valley Sheriff’s Station at (760) 240-7400 or Sheriff’s Dispatch at (760) 956-5001.

Callers wishing to remain anonymous are urged to call the We-Tip Hotline at 1-800-78CRIME (27463) or you may leave the information on the We-Tip website.