‘Home Alone’ Star Daniel Stern Cited for Solicitation of a Prostitute in California
CAMARILLO, CA — For millions of families worldwide, Daniel Stern is the face of holiday nostalgia. As Marv Murchins, the lanky, bumbling half of the “Wet Bandits,” his high-pitched screams and slapstick encounters with tarantulas and paint cans are as essential to Christmas as eggnog. However, as the 2025 holiday season drew to a close, the 68-year-old actor-turned-sculptor found himself in a real-life legal entanglement that stands in stark contrast to his family-friendly legacy.
On January 10, 2026, reports surfaced that Stern had been issued a criminal citation for soliciting a prostitute in Camarillo, California. The incident allegedly took place on December 10, 2025—coincidentally, the very month fans were revisiting his classic films.
A Citation, Not an Arrest
According to documents obtained from the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office, Stern was confronted by law enforcement at a hotel in Camarillo. While the news sparked immediate headlines, legal experts note that Stern was not arrested or taken into custody. Instead, he was issued a misdemeanor citation, effectively a “ticket” with a court date.
In California, solicitation of a prostitute is a misdemeanor offense. Under state law, a conviction can carry:
- Jail Time: Up to six months in county jail.
- Fines: A maximum of $1,000.
- Legal Record: A permanent misdemeanor on the individual’s criminal record.
Stern has not yet released a public statement regarding the citation, and it remains to be seen how his legal team will proceed in the Ventura County court system.
The Contrast: Immortalizing Marv in Bronze
The news of the citation is particularly jarring given the heart-warming professional update Stern shared just weeks prior. On Christmas Eve 2025, People magazine published an exclusive interview revealing that Stern had been commissioned for a “dream project” by the new owners of the original Home Alone house in Winnetka, Illinois.
Stern, who has spent the last 25 years perfecting the art of bronze sculpture, was asked to create a permanent installation for the property. The piece will be his first-ever self-portrait, depicting the iconic moment Marv screams as the tarantula crawls across his face.
“I got a call from the people who own the house,” Stern told People. “And I’m a sculptor, so I’m creating a sculpture of me and the spider. It’s gonna be kind of crazy… that spider, whatever his name was—Charlie—is being immortalized in bronze.”
The sculpture, which Stern joked he made “a lot handsomer” than his real-life self, was intended to be a gift to the fans who turn the Winnetka home into a tourist destination every December.
A Turbulent Year for the “Citrus Bandit”
The legal incident in Camarillo caps off a physically and emotionally taxing year for Stern. In October 2025, the actor was rushed to a Ventura County hospital following a medical emergency at his home in Somis. While his representatives later confirmed he was “doing well” and recovering at his ranch, the undisclosed health scare left fans concerned about the veteran performer.
Since stepping back from the Hollywood grind, Stern has built a “heavenly” life on a ranch in Southern California. Known to his local community and social media followers as the “Citrus Bandit,” he often shares videos of his tangerine harvests and cattle farming. His artistic career has also flourished, with his bronze works appearing in public spaces across San Diego and Pasadena.
The Legacy of a Storyteller
Despite the recent headlines, Stern’s impact on the industry remains vast. Beyond Home Alone, he provided the soul of The Wonder Years as the adult narrator (Kevin Arnold) and starred in classics like City Slickers and Breaking Away. His 2024 memoir, Home and Alone, detailed his journey from a high school dropout to a Hollywood staple, emphasizing his desire for artistic freedom over fame.
As the legal process moves forward in California, the public is left with a complex image of a man caught between the bumbling character that made him famous and the private struggles of a 68-year-old artist living far from the red carpet.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Is Daniel Stern still acting? While he spends most of his time on his ranch and in his sculpture studio, Stern still takes occasional roles. Most recently, he appeared in the Apple TV+ series For All Mankind.
2. What happened during his hospitalization in October 2025? The exact cause was never publicly disclosed, but his team described it as a “medical emergency” from which he has since recovered.
3. Will the sculpture still be placed at the Home Alone house? As of now, the commission stands. The sculpture is a private arrangement between Stern and the homeowners in Winnetka, Illinois.
4. Where is Daniel Stern’s art displayed? His bronze sculptures can be found in public art projects in Pasadena, San Diego, and Agoura Hills, California. He is also an artist-in-residence at Studio Channel Islands.
5. How much is the fine for his citation? If convicted of the misdemeanor solicitation charge in California, the fine is typically capped at $1,000, though jail time is also a possibility.
