A Bakersfield man faces more than seven years in prison in Kern County’s first conviction related to Proposition 36.

Dennis Ghianuly was found guilty on April 10 of possession of hard drugs with two or more priors and petty theft with two or more priors. Both felonies are new crimes as a result of the passage of Proposition 36 in the November 2024 election.

Bakersfield police Ghianuly walked out of the Petsmart on Oswell Street with a 44-pound bag of dog food without paying on January 8, 2025. The theft was captured on surveillance footage.

Police confronted Ghianuly in the parking lot where he was found with several knives, lighters, and over three grams of fentanyl.