August 14, 2026 – Sonora Police Department officials report that on August 10th, 2026, at 3:40 P.M., an officer observed 40-year-old Stephanie Marie Shelman walking on Stockton Street. The Officer recognized Shelman from prior law enforcement contacts and knew she had warrants for her arrest. The Officer stopped Shelman and placed her under arrest for her warrants.

After her arrest, a search of Shelman revealed approximately 0.4 grams of methamphetamine along with narcotic paraphernalia. The Officer conducted a criminal history check, which showed that Shelman had two or more previous convictions for possession of a hard drug. Shelman was charged with possession of a controlled substance with two or more priors and possession of narcotic paraphernalia.

Proposition 36, which was approved by voters in November of 2024, made possession of hard drugs a treatment-mandated felony if the person had 2 or more prior convictions of possession. Proposition 36 gave the Courts more opportunities to mandate that people charged with this crime receive addiction treatment rather than or in conjunction with being incarcerated.

Proposition 36 gives law enforcement and prosecutors more tools to give addicts treatment, helping their chances of rehabilitation.

It’s important to remember that the individuals mentioned in this report were arrested

based on suspicion of the crimes they’ve been charged with. All such charges are mere allegations, and all defendants are considered innocent until proven guilty.

Source: Sonora Police Department