Bizarre, Criminal law

California Police Arrest “The Sniffer,” But What Will Be the Charge?

There is a bizarre case out of California where Calese Carron Crowder was arrested after crouching down behind women and appearing to “sniff” them from behind at a Burbank Barnes & Noble store. Putting aside the bizarre fetish, the criminal charges in the case present equally novel elements.

Crowder is well known to the police and has burglary and Peeping Tom arrests going back years. This was his 43rd arrest since 2005 in Los Angeles County alone.

Indeed, the 36-year-old ex-convict was arrested in a Peeping Tom case on Monday, August 6th on a prowling charge — only the latest in a litany of such charges. Yet, he was released on Tuesday, August 7 after pleading no contest at his arraignment. The release conflicts with his sentence of 60 days in the county jail. He was also ordered to enter a sexual impulse rehabilitation program.

He then allegedly set about to sniff women. One such incident was captured on a TikTok video posted on Aug. 8.  The woman, Michaela Witter said that she was recording “Day 20” of “100 days of solo dates.” Crowder was staring at her and then crouched behind her. She said “He’ll crouch down low and pretend like he’s doing something and then smell? I don’t know.” She asked him what he was doing, he told her he was tying his shoe.

She then saw him sniffing her and told the management before rushing to her car. She wrote: “I’m so disgusted. I feel really violated.”

Other women have come forward to report similar bizarre occurrences.

The question is what the crime would be in such a sniffing incident.

It appears that he has not registered as a sexual offender as required, so there can clearly be violations associated with past cases. However, is sniffing alone a crime without contact?

The most obvious crime might be a type of stalking.

Under Penal Code 646.9 PC, stalking can be charged if you follow, harass, and threaten someone to the point that the person fears for his or her safety:

646.9. (a) Any person who willfully, maliciously, and repeatedly follows or willfully and maliciously harasses another person and who makes a credible threat with the intent to place that person in reasonable fear for his or her safety, or the safety of his or her immediate family is guilty of the crime of stalking, punishable by imprisonment in a county jail for not more than one year, or by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000), or by both that fine and imprisonment, or by imprisonment in the state prison.

Perhaps our California lawyers have some other suggestions. No charges on this latest offense have been filed as police continue to investigate.

63 thoughts on “California Police Arrest “The Sniffer,” But What Will Be the Charge?”

  3. I suppose we should look to how we treat old joe – another sniffer out their doing his own thing.

  4. Maybe he identifies as a dog. He will need to be given a special designation as a protected “community.”

  5. He should run for President and use the “First Sniffer and Chief” as his role model

  7. Don’t worry, if he kills someone they will lock him up for a good 15 years.

    43 arrests and still walking around, that is liberal America.

  9. Arrested on the 6th.
    Released on the 7th.
    Out sniffing on the 8th.
    This is what the CA, soft on crime society looks like.
    And Newsome wants to bring it to the whole of America.

  10. “appearing to “sniff” them from behind ”

    Crowder is the perfect replacement for Joe Biden.

  13. Alright! This certainly shall prove there is a double standard of justice in this country….absolutely guaranteed!

    If I was his Public Defender assigned legal counsel I would play every video that exists of Joe Biden doing exactly what the accused was caught doing.

    If Joe Biden gets a pass for it….and no Man is above the Law as the Democrats tell us….then certainly the pervert in California should be treated exactly the same as the President of the United States re this despicable conduct.

    Or am I missing something here?

    In the days when we enjoyed the Rule of Law….instead of Rule by Law as we are currently suffering under….both would have received harsh treatment by the Criminal Justice System.

    Sadly, those days are gone…..even video proof of the crimes will not get some people into court while others remain victims of an unjust system.

    I do miss the old days where a Husband, Brother, Son, or Male Bystander would have “handed” out immediate justice for such behavior.

    At least one US Senator is supposed to have offered to do so in a close personal chat with Joe Biden.

    Had he acted on his offer that would have been a very interesting video to watch.

  15. The question is “Are there degrees of sniffing?”. If it’s a misdemeanor, then at what point does it change to a low level felony. Are we talking a quick whiff, or a long drawn out inhalation. Or are there many different whiffs over time. As far as stalking is concerned, this could be called aggravated stalking by adding to the severity of the stalking charge and maybe more time in jail. These are obviously serious issues for the legal profession to address. Is sniffing illegal only in California or also in D.C., New York and Chicago. In D.C. it could a national security issue. As the president might be assailed or disabled by a toxic material in an attractive woman’s hairdo. This, of course, would require a small, high tech delivery system that spots the presidents nose approaching and this keys the release of the toxin. God forbid the various ways of taking us out just by our unseemly habits and foibles. We will definitely need an update.
    On the other hand I may just have too much free time this morning.

    1. GEB,
      You may have too much free time this morning, but it was a good laugh.
      Thank you.

  16. The businesses in California might be getting a break soon with the visit of Hillary. If she hits landfall hard all the tents, cardboard subdivisions and excrement will be washed away.

  17. “… She then saw him sniffing her and told the management before rushing to her car. She wrote: “I’m so disgusted. I feel really violated.” …”

    I experienced a similar incident however it was “whiffing”.

    Recently I was in a local Fast Food establishment enjoying a quick Bean Burrito lunch, when the Lady sitting three tables away began ‘whiffing’ Me. I immediately told the Management before rushing out to my Truck. “I was so disgusted. I really felt totally violated.”

    Later I learned that when Management asked Her why was she “whiffing” Me, She said that her late husband and her used to play “Tent” and apparently since I was eating a Bean Burrito, she was under the belief that it may produce the flatulent fragrance that she so dearly missed.

    In part my sympathies fell for her flatulent fantasies, as my own wife would often sounds off like a Fog Horn in the mornings after an evening of eating a quart of ripe Black Bing Cherries. Indeed the scent would linger in my mind throughout the day and I often found it hard to concentrate. She could be intoxicating. (Ahhhh yes Fellas, just one of those unspoken pleasures of Marriage!).

    Considering what I can do on my own behalf to mitigate the situation, I have placed an order for Lume Deo to cover my Butt Crack so to disguise any random emissions. Further reducing the possibility of becoming an ‘Attractive Nuisance’ and enticing a Flatulent Violation.

    At this point I am not so sure that a Restraining Order needs to be issued, but I am concerned that Ms. Whiff-el may follow me home and circles my block continuously trying to capture my intoxicating aroma. Fortunately the Neighborhood watch has incorporated a number of Ring Doorbell cameras and should She violate my Trucks Diver’s Seat to pinch-a-whiff it will be caught on camera.

    Should the situation escalate, I will then have to submit a proposal at the City Council meeting for an new Ordnance to prohibit “Whiffing”. It seems probable should the measure pass, that it would be classified as a Misdemeanor with a moderate fine (a little stiffer than a Parking Ticket or J-Walking Citation), However I would not object to the State codifying it as a Crime “punishable by imprisonment in a county jail for not more than one year, or by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000), or by both that fine and imprisonment, or by imprisonment in the state prison.”

    It would be a shame to see Ms. Whiff-el behind Bars, but I certainly can’t have her out roaming the streets searching for that long lost scent. For Heaven sake! You never know which way the breaking-wind blows.

    Auto Generated by ChatGPT™

    1. Sir,

      Your Case is of great interest to our Firm, Upon a cursory review of the facts we feel this unfortunate situation crosses the intersection of Torts & Farts.

      One should most certainly have the ‘Freedom to Fart’ in that of Public and Private places, without the accompanied “Whiffing” by other Persons unknown. Indeed, since your ‘Flatulent Expression’ is being; curtailed, suppressed, and your liberties violated, We see this as a prohibition on your “Freedom of Speech.” Wherein Other Firms would say that this case Stinks, We find it highly viable with possibly a Big Judgment ($) in Your Favor.

      Due to the importance of this, We are prepared to bring the foremost renowned Expert Witnesses such as; Jonathan Turley Esq., Alan Dershowitz, Laurence Tribe LLB, Mark Levin J.D., Robert Shapiro and Others to Trial along with our prodigious Legal Team to represent YOU.

      We’ll be happy to take this cause for Justice on your behalf.
      Our Paralegals are standing by at: 1 800 MASSIVE LAW FIRM

      Sincerely,
      Jackie Chiles Esq.

  18. This should be fun to watch. But it’s too easy so I’m just going to grab some popcorn.

    1. I will say, this is a prime example of our two-tiered justice system. The sniffer in chief is walking around a free man. Pedo Joe has even been advised by people close to him to knock it off, but he can’t help himself.

  20. Only in California, New York, or Illinois would a person with this many arrests have been out, so he could continue his bizarre behavior at a Barnes & Noble. In Saudi Arabia, this guy would have had his nose cut off as punishment (well, maybe)

Comments are closed.