Graton man convicted of stealing fuel from vineyards

A Graton man who prosecutors said stole diesel fuel from a Gallo Vineyards property on Frei Road last year faces up to three years in jail after he was convicted by a jury Wednesday for felony hazardous waste disposal and misdemeanor petty theft, according to Sonoma District Attorney Jill Ravitch.

Timothy Ray Davis, 49, was accused of stealing the fuel between April 12 and April 25 last year and spilling some of it in Gallo’s vineyards, on a private road of the Paul Hobbs Winery and on Highway 116. Prosecutors said Davis, who lived on a nearby tree farm, confessed to using an ATV with a trailer to steal the fuel to run a generator on his property.

He also admitted to spilling a barrel of diesel in the Gallo Vineyards property that destroyed some grapevines.

The jury deliberated for two hours after a four-day trial. Davis faces a maximum of three years in jail for the felony hazardous waste disposal conviction. The misdemeanor theft charge has a maximum penalty of six months.

“This demonstrates our commitment to prosecuting environmental crimes,” Ravitch said.

The case was tried by Deputy District Attorney Ann Gallagher White, assisted by District Attorney Investigator Lisa Chapman.

You can reach Staff Writer Elizabeth M. Cosin at 521-5276 or elizabeth.cosin@pressdemocrat.com.

EDITOR’S NOTE: This story has been updated to correct an error in describing the maximum sentence for the felony charge of hazardous waste disposal.