A jury convicted appellant of grand theft of five catalytic converters worth more than $950. At trial, over the objection of appellant, the investing officer testified that prior to becoming a police officer, he worked as a general manager of a rent-to-own store in 2015. In his experience, it cost more than $2,000 to replace a catalytic converter. His vans were smaller than the size of the trucks at issue in the case, and he had no experience with the cost of catalytic converters in 2023 (when the alleged theft occurred) or the cost of catalytic converters on full size vehicles generally.

The Court of Appeal agreed with appellant that the officer’s testimony was insufficient to establish that the fair market value of the catalytic converters was more than $950. Appellant’s grand theft count was reduced to a misdemeanor.