Just before 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday morning, police were alerted of a stolen county vehicle belonging to Kern County Mental Health.
The man who stole the car was Jason Keplinger, who was reportedly being transported to a parole office on Sillect Avenue in the car. That's when Keplinger was able to steal the car, heading northeast and parking at First Pentecostal Church on West Columbus, where he was arrested.
Less than four years ago, Keplinger was arrested after stealing a car at the FoodMaxx across the street and parking at First Pentecostal Church, the exact same place that officers caught up with him this morning.
Keplinger surrendered to police with no incident, and no one was hurt.
Keplinger has faced other grand theft and car-jacking charges, and was charged with child molestation before pleading guilty to sexual battery in 1996.
