Upland Man Wanted for Theft of Money Collected for Burial of Apple Valley Baby

APPLE VALLEY – Authorities are asking for the public’s help to locate a man who was captured on surveillance footage stealing funds collected at an Apple Valley gas station for the burial of a baby who died in a car accident. Steven A. Hodel, 41, of Upland, was out of jail on Post Release Community Supervision at the time of the theft from the Apple Valley Gas Mart, located at 21898 State Hwy 18.

At around 1:09 a.m. on Wednesday Hodel walked into the store to make a purchase. While at the counter, he located a tub full of an unknown amount of money meant to assist the Apple Valley family pay for their child’s funeral after a tragic accident that took their child’s life. He placed the tub under his jacket, paid for tan item, and left the store with the charity money. Authorities were able to quickly identify Hodel from the store’s surveillance footage. Hodel is wanted on a felony no-bail warrant.

Anyone with information is to contact the Apple Valley Station at (760)240-7400 or Sheriff’s Dispatch at (760) 956-5001.

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