SLO County Dist Atty

Veritas et Justitia: Committed to seeking truth and a just outcome in every criminal case in San Luis Obispo County. Retweets are not endorsements.

[SLO County Dist Atty @SLOCounty_DA]

For the full press release, visit our website https://t.co/iBVB8T0FKY

San Luis Obispo County District Attorney Dan Dow announced today that on Wednesday, September 23, 2026, a San Luis Obispo County jury found Bob Otis Sell (DOB 12/23/1971) guilty of felony infliction of corporal injury resulting in a traumatic condition on a person with whom he had a dating or engagement relationship, in violation of Penal Code Section 273.5(a), for an attack on May 14, 2026.

[SLO County Dist Atty @SLOCounty_DA]

For the full press release, visit our website https://t.co/9I4jgtgaDN
San Luis Obispo County District Attorney Dan Dow announced today that a San Luis Obispo County jury has convicted Gaea Edde Powell (DOB 12/02/1962) on all nine counts charged — eight felonies and one misdemeanor — for election fraud committed during the 2022 and 2024 Arroyo Grande mayoral election cycles. The jury began deliberating at 9:00 a.m. this morning and returned its verdicts at 3:00 p.m. Sentencing is scheduled for October 19, 2026.

[SLO County Dist Atty @SLOCounty_DA]

For the full press release, visit our website https://t.co/gEdH5Q4Sso

District Attorney Dan Dow announced today that Vanessa Rose Noblitt (DOB 10/31/1980) has pled guilty to vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, driving with a blood alcohol concentration greater than .15 percent causing great bodily injury or death, and hit and run.  The DUI with great bodily injury or death is a violent strike offense under California’s Three Strikes Law.  Noblitt also admitted a factor in aggravation that the victim was particularly vulnerable.

The fatal collision took place about noon on July 23, 2024, when Noblitt, while driving southbound on South Higuera Street in San Luis Obispo, drifted into the bike lane striking 86-year-old cyclist Saul Goldberg.  Mr. Goldberg and his longtime friend, 72-year-old Martin Suits, were riding in sequence in the southbound bike lane when Mr. Goldberg was struck from the side causing him to fall.

Mr. Suits likely collided with Mr. Goldberg and went down as well.  Mr. Suits suffered a concussion and other injuries.  Mr. Goldberg tragically died from his injuries several days later.  Noblitt was later arrested after she struck a parked car in a nearby mobile home park.  It was determined she had a blood alcohol level of .31%.

[SLO County Dist Atty @SLOCounty_DA]

For the full press release, visit our website at https://t.co/hira7Q0zyw

San Luis Obispo County District Attorney Dan Dow announced today that George Rodriguez Recio, (DOB: August 4, 1952), has been sentenced to 73 years to life in state prison for repeatedly sexually assaulting four female victims.

On June 3, 2026, a San Luis Obispo County jury convicted Recio of 20 felony counts arising from the sexual abuse of four victims. At trial, jurors heard evidence that Recio abused the victims over many years, from 1996 through 2024. Three victims were between the ages of 6 and 12 when the abuse occurred, and one victim was 25 years old. The crimes occurred in Grover Beach.

Today, August 25, 2026, the Honorable Michael Frye sentenced Recio to 73 years to life in state prison. The Court also issued a criminal protective order prohibiting Recio from having contact with the victims and ordered him to register as a sex offender for life.

[SLO County Dist Atty @SLOCounty_DA]

For the full press release, visit our website https://t.co/GJMT03laoG
San Luis Obispo County District Attorney Dan Dow announced today David Allen Leader (DOB 07/20/1955) has been sentenced to two years supervised probation and 30 days in county jail.  The defendant was also ordered to stay away from the victims in this case as a condition of his probation.  The victims in this case were present and provided impact statements to the Court, exercising their rights under the California Constitution Crime Victims’ Bill of Rights that is also known as “Marsy’s Rights.”

A restitution hearing is scheduled for November 4, 2026, at 8:30 a.m. in Department 7 of the San Luis Obispo County Superior Court, the Honorable Rita Federman presiding.

In July, Mr. Leader pled guilty to one felony count of vandalism, and seven misdemeanor counts of disobeying a court order. The plea agreement resolved two consolidated criminal cases arising from a prolonged pattern of alleged vandalism, harassment, and repeated violations of a civil harassment restraining order directed at several Templeton-area neighbors.

[SLO County Dist Atty @SLOCounty_DA]

For the full press release, visit our website https://t.co/JtInOXbtUw

San Luis Obispo County District Attorney Dan Dow announced today that Teodulo Vasquezjimenez (DOB 06/18/1985) has been sentenced to 283 years to life in state prison for repeatedly sexually abusing two children.

On July 15, 2026, a San Luis Obispo County jury convicted Vasquezjimenez of 15 counts involving the sexual abuse of two children. During trial, jurors heard evidence that Vasquezjimenez abused the victims over many years, from 2009 through 2023, when they were between 6 and 14 years old. The crimes occurred in Paso Robles.

On August 11, 2026, Judge Rita Federman sentenced Vasquezjimenez to 283 years to life in state prison, the maximum term authorized by law. The Court also issued a criminal protective order prohibiting him from having any contact with the victims, ordered his lifetime registration as a sex offender, and ordered $1 million in restitution for each survivor.

[SLO County Dist Atty @SLOCounty_DA]

For the full press release, visit our website https://t.co/63tqacDAQT
Three Santa Maria Gang Members Held to Answer on All Charges in Violent Downtown San Luis Obispo Group Assault.

San Luis Obispo County District Attorney Dan Dow announced today that following a preliminary hearing in San Luis Obispo County Superior Court, Judge Michael Duffy held all three defendants — Alex LopezRamirez, Miguel Mendez, and Brian RamirezLopez — to answer on all charges and allegations alleged in the complaint.

On October 6, 2024, the three defendants were involved in a group assault in downtown San Luis Obispo near Hotel Cerro. According to the evidence presented at the preliminary hearing, the defendants acting as a group repeatedly stomped, kicked, and punched the victim in the middle of the road. As the victim lay motionless and unconscious in the street, the group continued to stomp and kick him in the face. The victim was later transported to a hospital, where he was treated for the severe injuries he suffered. The assault was captured on video, and additional recordings of the defendants made after the assault were also part of the evidence.

The three defendants were identified as members of a criminal street gang from Santa Maria. The victim was identified as a member of a rival Santa Maria criminal street gang.

Each defendant was held to answer for Assault by Means Likely to Produce Great Bodily Injury, along with the additional allegations that each personally inflicted great bodily injury and that the crime was committed for the benefit of a criminal street gang. The court found sufficient evidence at this stage of the proceedings to support all charges and allegations.

[SLO County Dist Atty @SLOCounty_DA]

For the full press release, visit our website https://t.co/Xn6iqVMybv

San Luis Obispo County District Attorney Dan Dow announced today the jury conviction of John Stephen O’Brien, a local X-ray technician who was found guilty of misdemeanor sexual battery against a patient at a medical office on or about May 15, 2024.

According to the evidence presented during the 7-day trial, the victim went in for an X-ray of her back and needed assistance tying her gown. After the X-rays were completed, O’Brien offered to untie the gown. When the victim agreed, O’Brien untied the gown, touched and rubbed her back, kissed her back, pressed his erection against her back, and then reached around the front of her body in an embrace and grabbed and squeezed her breasts twice.

[SLO County Dist Atty @SLOCounty_DA]

The San Luis Obispo County District Attorney's Office is NOW HIRING for a Deputy District Attorney I/II/III/IV and Post Bar Law Clerk (Temp)! The ideal candidates will be individuals who are driven, self-motivated, and have a desire to serve their community by seeking and pursuing justice on behalf of victims of crime. Click on the link below to view the full job description and submit your application:
https://t.co/80uJrcPHYw
https://t.co/mVGngDMzDN

[SLO County Dist Atty @SLOCounty_DA]

For the full press release, visit our website https://t.co/sbCzvh6h19

San Luis Obispo County District Attorney Dan Dow announced today that David Allen Leader (DOB 07/20/1955) has pled guilty to one felony count of vandalism and seven misdemeanor counts of disobeying a court order, resolving two consolidated criminal cases arising from a prolonged pattern of vandalism, harassment, and repeated violations of a civil harassment restraining order directed at his Templeton-area neighbors.

[SLO County Dist Atty @SLOCounty_DA]

For the full press release, visit our website https://t.co/VPDwcB6PgM
San Luis Obispo County District Attorney Dan Dow announced today that a San Luis Obispo County jury has convicted Robert Wade Moore, IV (DOB 05/06/1986) of robbery, two counts of assault, and resisting a peace officer stemming from a December 2025 attack on a 67-year-old grocery store employee in the City of San Luis Obispo. Sentencing is scheduled for August 12, 2026.

[SLO County Dist Atty @SLOCounty_DA]

For the full press release, visit our website https://t.co/SBDmXFB9FB

San Luis Obispo County District Attorney Dan Dow announced today that on Friday, July 17, 2026, a San Luis Obispo County jury found Paul James Meagher (36) of Pismo Beach guilty of violating a criminal protective order, a misemeanor, in September 2025.

[SLO County Dist Atty @SLOCounty_DA]

For the full press release, visit our website https://t.co/CJU7lPTItl

San Luis Obispo County District Attorney Dan Dow announced today that a San Luis Obispo County jury has convicted Teodulo Vasquezjimenez (DOB 06/18/1985) of 15 felony counts involving the sexual abuse of two child victims. The offenses occurred in San Luis Obispo County between 2009 and 2023, when the victims were 14 years old and younger.

[SLO County Dist Atty @SLOCounty_DA]

For the full press release, visit our website https://t.co/gZn36A2a3n

San Luis Obispo County District Attorney Dan Dow announced today that Boaz Winslow Brigham and Malachy Damien Hayes, both residents of Arroyo Grande, were sentenced for the brutal and unprovoked attack on a sleeping homeless man in the middle of the night in March 2026.

Boaz Winslow Brigham (21) and Malachy Damien Hayes (18) were sentenced on July 13, 2026, in San Luis Obispo County Superior Court after each admitted to violently attacking an elderly, homeless man as he slept in a public park in Arroyo Grande. Brigham pleaded guilty and Hayes pleaded no contest to felony elder abuse, and each admitted a great-bodily-injury enhancement and multiple aggravating factors. The enhancement makes the crime a serious and violent felony - a strike - under California's Three Strikes law.

The shocking crime was committed at approximately 1:30 in the morning while the homeless victim slept in a park under an outdoor picnic area that was under video surveillance. According to police reports and surveillance video reviewed during the investigation, at approximately 1:30 a.m. on March 20, 2026, Hayes and Brigham walked together to Elm Street Park, where the victim, Douglas Mark, was asleep in the park gazebo.

Surveillance footage showed Hayes approach Mr. Mark as he slept, stand over him, and urinate on him until Mr. Mark awoke. Mr. Mark told officers he was roused by liquid splashing on his face and body. As Mr. Mark struggled to his feet, Hayes advanced on him and began punching him in the head and face. Brigham then walked into view and joined the attack, with the two continuing to punch and kick Mr. Mark in the head, face, and body while he lay on the ground - all while Brigham continuously video-recorded the assault on his cell phone.

[SLO County Dist Atty @SLOCounty_DA]

For the full press release, visit our website https://t.co/fDEEBCb1Lp
San Luis Obispo County District Attorney Dan Dow announced today that Abel Santiago (23) was held to answer on all charges, including murder and conspiracy to commit murder, in the November 2025 shooting death of Margarito Ventura Ventura.

[SLO County Dist Atty @SLOCounty_DA]

For the full press release, visit our website https://t.co/YVYhA7ImEW

Today, the San Luis Obispo County District Attorney’s Office announces the filing of charges and issuing of an arrest warrant for Kyle L. Combs, 40, of Grover Beach, with 12 misdemeanor counts of violating Penal Code section 647(j)(1), invasion of privacy.

Readers may be justifiably disturbed to learn that, under current California law, allegations involving secretly recording multiple nude victims in private tanning booths are generally chargeable only as misdemeanors unless additional circumstances exist. If the public believes this conduct should be punishable as a felony, that change must come from the California Legislature, and residents may contact their State Assemblymember and State Senator through the official representative lookup page at https://t.co/WDRoelxiMY.

The criminal complaint alleges that, at a fitness center in Arroyo Grande, Combs secretly used a device to view or record women while they were nude inside standing tanning booths, a place where any person would reasonably expect complete privacy. The charged offenses allegedly occurred between July 12, 2025, and December 29, 2025, and involve 12 separate “Jane Doe” victims.

[SLO County Dist Atty @SLOCounty_DA]

For the full press release, visit our website https://t.co/aKKsHK1PSG
San Luis Obispo County District Attorney Dan Dow announced today that former Gala Pride and Diversity Center Executive Director Dustin Colyerworth has been sentenced after he pled guilty to two felony counts of grand theft by embezzlement, and paid $59,302.07 in restitution.

[SLO County Dist Atty @SLOCounty_DA]

For the full press release, visit our website https://t.co/idXAlzlvcY

San Luis Obispo County District Attorney Dan Dow announced today that San Luis Obispo County Superior Court Judge Jesse Marino has found sufficient evidence to hold former priest Theodore Edward Gabrielli to answer on 24 felony counts involving the molestation of four children.  The District Attorney's Office is contemplating filing additional charges which it believes were proven at the hearing.

[SLO County Dist Atty @SLOCounty_DA]

We recently said farewell to one of our volunteer student interns, Roman Medeiros. Roman has been volunteering in our office with the Legal Clerk unit since January 2026. The host of the podcast The Roman Medeiros Show, he currently attends Cuesta College, where he is studying Political Science and hopes to pursue a career in law. Thank you, Roman, for the help and support you provided staff over the last several months - we wish you the best of luck!
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