On Wednesday, October 19, Terry Grigsby of Dinuba, age 38, plead no contest to a felony grand theft charge with special allegations. He was immediately sentenced in Tulare County Court, Dinuba Division by the Honorable Stephen Drew on one count of grand theft, a violation of Penal Code Section 487. Judge Drew denied probation, and sentenced Grigsby to 44 months state prison. In addition Grigsby was ordered to pay restitution fines and other related costs. This case was investigated by the Tulare County District Attorney’s office Rural Crimes Unit. Ian Marty of the Tulare County District Attorney’s office Agricultural Crimes Unit was the prosecutor on this case.

The case began after calls to the Tulare County District Attorney’s office Rural Crimes Unit. The calls were made by a local farmer who had been experiencing a large amount of equipment theft on his property. In response to the farmer’s plight, a covert operation was planned utilizing the combined resources of the Tulare County Sheriff’s office, Rural Crimes Unit, and the Tulare County District Attorney’s office Ag Crime Unit. Sophisticated high tech equipment provided by the ACTION (Agricultural Crime Technology Information & Operations Network) project was deployed in the area. Using the both human and high tech resources Grigsby was caught stealing equipment.

Both the Sheriff’s Department Ag Crime Unit and the District Attorney’s Ag Crime Unit operate through the State funded Rural Crime Prevention Program administered by the Office of the Tulare County District Attorney. The Rural Crime Prevention program was developed by District Attorney Phil Cline to stop and prevent agricultural crime.

For more information on protecting agricultural operations contact the Rural Crime Prevention Unit at (559) 624-1054, the ACTION Project at (559) 624-1054 or the Sheriff’s Ag Crime Unit at (559) 740-4300. Information can be obtained on line at www.agcrime.net

For further information contact:
Carol Turner, Assistant District Attorney
559-733-6411