Bike SLO County leader headed to trial for child molestation
By KAREN VELIE The former executive director of Bike SLO County is headed to trial for allegedly molesting his 6-year-old step-granddaughter in a hot tub, San Luis Obispo County Superior Court Judge Jesse Marino ruled at Richard Ellison’s preliminary hearing on Thursday. During the hearing, District Attorney Dan Dow called...
Lompoc man arrested over allegedly seeking sex with minors
By JOSH FRIEDMAN Lompoc police detectives on Thursday arrested a 41-year-old man who was allegedly seeking sex with girls aged 13 and 14. In February, detectives received information that Matthew Markonis of Lompoc was communicating with an individual believed to be a 13-year-old girl. Investigators determined Markonis used online platforms,...
Templeton advisory chair handcuffed, arrested at court
By KAREN VELIE A deputy placed the chair of the combative Templeton Area Advisory Group in handcuffs on Friday at the end of a hearing regarding a motion to revoke bail after the judge determined David Leader violated multiple restraining orders. During the hearing, three neighbors and two deputies testified...
San Luis Obispo County Jail inmate died from fentanyl use
By JOSH FRIEDMAN The San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office Coroner’s Unit has determined fentanyl to be the primary cause of death for a 48-year-old inmate who died in SLO County Jail last month. Hypertensive cardiovascular disease also served as a significant contributing condition in the death of Trenidad Castilleja...
Santa Barbara police arrest man over stabbing at harbor
By JOSH FRIEDMAN Santa Barbara police officers arrested a man over a stabbing at the city’s harbor early Thursday morning. [KCOY] At about 5:30 a.m., a caller reported an alleged assault near the Santa Barbara Landing at the harbor. Officers arrived at the scene and found a man with multiple...
Alleged drunk driver hits parked truck in San Luis Obispo
By KAREN VELIE An alleged drunk driver crashed into a parked truck early Friday morning in San Luis Obispo, according to police. Shortly after 1 a.m., a resident on the 2100 block of Johnson Avenue called 9-1-1 to report hearing a car wreck outside their home. Officers and firefighters arrived...
Morro Bay restaurateur headed to trial for child porn, weapons charges
By KAREN VELIE A San Luis Obispo County judge ruled Thursday that the child pornography and weapons case against the owner of Giovanni’s Fish Market in Morro Bay will go to trial. Giovanni DeGarimore is charged with five felony charges, including possession of child pornography and possession of assault weapons....
