If you’re caught wandering around a private property there’s a good chance that in addition to
trespassing charges, you’ll also be charged with prowling.Prowling is dealt with in
California’s Penal Code 647i PC. It defines a prowler as a person,
“who, while loitering, prowling, or wandering upon the private property of another, at any time, peeks in the door or window of any inhabited building or structure, without visible or lawful business with the owner or occupant.”Prowling in California is handled as a
misdemeanor. If you’re convicted, the maximum sentence is up to six months in a county jail and/or a $1,000 fine. In many cases, prowling is added to other charges which can include
stalking,
trespassing,
violating a personal protection order, and
harassment. The additional charges will likely influence the final sentence.There have been cases where a person was charged with prowling but the charge was ultimately dropped. This frequently happens when the defendant can prove that:
- They had permission to be on the property
- They didn’t know it was private property
- They had a justified reason for being on the property
- They were falsely accused
