Former SLO County Probation officer guilty of embezzlement
By KAREN VELIE A former San Luis Obispo County probation officer pleaded guilty to nine counts of felony grand theft by embezzlement after her request for mental health diversion was denied. Following 32-year-old Fallyn Sierra Rollins’ guilty plea, the court indicated a sentence of 270 in jail if Rollins fully...
Oceano Cub Scouts leader charged with possession of child pornography
By KAREN VELIE San Luis Obispo County sheriff deputies arrested a Cub Scouts leader from Oceano on Thursday for possession of child pornography. On Feb. 17, deputies received a report of suspected child sexual abuse material. During the investigation, detectives identified the suspect as 46-year-old Michael Schmidt, an employee the...
Driver crashes into Paso Robles liquor store, then flees
By JOSH FRIEDMAN A driver crashed into a liquor store in Paso Robles Thursday morning and then fled the scene. Shortly before 8 a.m., a 9-1-1 caller reported a had driver hit and damaged a wall at Appy’s Liquor, located at 2816 Spring Street. The crash apparently occurred while the...
SLO Ranch Market temporarily loses liquor license
By KAREN VELIE An employee of the SLO Ranch Market in San Luis Obispo sold alcohol to a minor last summer. The state of California responded by suspending the store’s liquor license for 15 days. On June 5, the San Luis Obispo Police Department, assisted by agents from the Department...
Santa Maria gang member sentenced to 50 years to life for murder
By JOSH FRIEDMAN A Santa Barbara County judge on Wednesday sentenced a Santa Maria gang member to 50 years to life in prison for murder. On May 16, 2021, at about 2 a.m., Alfredo Alaniz shot and killed Mario Merino Gonzalez, 19, on North Lincoln Street in Santa Maria. Alaniz...
Paso Robles schools need to focus on learning, not encouraging dissent
OPINION by KENNEY ENNEY Since joining the Paso Robles Joint Unified School District Board, I have lamented the fact that we no longer instill in our children a unifying collective pride in our country. I have lamented the fact that love of country; that thread of patriotism that has stitched...
Firefighters extinguished trailer fire in Oceano
By JOSH FRIEDMAN Firefighters extinguished a fire that partially burned a fifth-wheel trailer at a residence in Oceano on Wednesday evening. Shortly before 7 p.m., a 9-1-1 caller reported a fire burning in the 1200 block of Silver Spur Place, according to Cal Fire. Five Cities Fire Authority and Cal...
