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San Luis Obispo County District Attorney, 1035 Palm Street # 450, San Luis Obispo, CA (2026)

08/12/2026

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 s*xually abusing two children.

On July 15, 2026, a San Luis Obispo County jury convicted Vasquezjimenez of 15 counts involving the s*xual 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 s*x offender, and ordered $1 million in restitution for each survivor.

“This verdict and sentence reflect the extraordinary courage of these two victims, who came forward and endured the difficult process of seeking justice,” said District Attorney Dan Dow. “Their voices mattered, their rights mattered, and they remain at the center of this case. This outcome demonstrates the dedicated work of our criminal and victim justice system—law enforcement, prosecutors, victim advocates, witness-support staff, and jurors—to hold offenders accountable while honoring victims’ rights, protecting their safety, and supporting them throughout the process. We are deeply grateful to the jury for its careful and thoughtful consideration of the evidence and for delivering accountability in this case.”

This case was investigated by the Paso Robles Police Department, with assistance from the District Attorney’s Office Bureau of Investigation. The case was prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Kristin Barnard of the S*x Crimes Unit.

Throughout this case, the victims were supported by Victim Advocates Aracely Maldonado and Tristan Milledge and Witness Coordinator Kellie Navarro of the District Attorney’s Christopher G. Money Victim Witness Assistance Center. Their work helped ensure that the victims had information, support, advocacy, and assistance navigating the criminal and victim justice system.

The District Attorney’s Office wants every survivor of s*xual abuse to know: you are not alone, and help is available. Confidential support, advocacy, and assistance are available through the District Attorney’s Victim Witness Assistance Center and community partners. Survivors may seek services whether or not they are ready to report abuse to law enforcement. When a survivor chooses to report, law enforcement and victim-service professionals can help investigate the crime, pursue accountability, enhance safety, and connect the survivor with available resources.

For copies of the defendant's booking photo and charging document, visit our website linked in comments below.
Dan Dow District Attorney Paso Robles Police Department

08/12/2026

Three Santa Maria Gang Members Held to Answer on All Charges in Violent Downtown San Luis Obispo Group Assault.

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.

"Gang violence has no place in San Luis Obispo County," District Attorney Dan Dow said. "This was a brutal group attack that continued even after the victim was unconscious and defenseless in the middle of a public street. Our community is safer when those who bring this kind of violence here are held fully accountable, and this office will continue to pursue that accountability alongside our law enforcement partners."

The case was investigated by the San Luis Obispo Police Department, the San Luis Obispo County District Attorney's Office Bureau of Investigators, and the Santa Maria Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Cameron Simoes. Victim Witness services have been provided by Victim Advocate Dona Reed and Witness Coordinator Kellie Navarro.

All three defendants are currently out of custody. The case is next set for a Superior Court Arraignment in Department 6 on September 17, 2026, at 8:30 a.m.

It is important to note the charges described in this press release are allegations only. All defendants are legally presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
For copies of the charging document and booking photos, visit our website linked in comments below.
Dan Dow District Attorney San Luis Obispo Police Department

08/03/2026

The San Luis Obispo County District Attorney's Office is proud to participate in the upcoming Southern California Prosecutorial Carrer Fair on Friday, September 4th. Please see flyer below for event details and registration information.
Dan Dow District Attorney California District Attorneys Association

07/30/2026

Congratulations 🎉 to Madison Miller for completing her assignment as a summer Law Clerk in our office this week. Madison is from Templeton and attended Cal Poly, where she received her Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology with a minor in Law and Society. She will be returning to law school at Pepperdine Caruso School of Law next month, and we wish her a very successful second year! Thank you, Madison, for the work and dedication you provided. You will be missed.⚖
Dow District Attorney

07/29/2026

Jury Convicts X-Ray Technician of S*xual Battery for Unwanted Touching of Patient.

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 s*xual battery against a patient at a medical office on or about May 15, 2024.

District Attorney Dan Dow announced today that a San Luis Obispo County jury has found John Stephen O’Brien (03/23/1979) guilty of misdemeanor s*xual battery and for willfully and unlawfully touching an intimate part of a patient against her will for the purpose of s*xual arousal, s*xual gratification, and s*xual abuse while he was working as an X-ray technician at a local medical office.

According to the evidence presented during the 7-day trial, the victim went in for an X-ray for 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 er****on against her back, and then reached around the front of her body in an embrace and grabbed and squeezed her breasts twice.

The victim immediately reported the incident to the medical office and law enforcement that same day. When interviewed by police the following day, O’Brien admitted that he grabbed the victim’s breasts but claimed she had come on to him. At trial, he again claimed that her movements and body position were an invitation for the s*xual touching. The jury rejected that claim and found him guilty.

The jury also heard from a prior victim who had been a patient obtaining an X-ray in 2016 within San Luis Obispo County. This female victim testified to very similar conduct by the defendant on that occasion that included unwanted touching of her private body parts. This evidence was allowed under a provision of the Evidence Code that allows for certain uncharged prior conduct to be admitted as evidence when a judge rules that it is permissible for a particular purpose.

“Patients place extraordinary trust in medical professionals, and that trust is especially important when a patient is in a vulnerable position during treatment,” District Attorney Dan Dow said. “This verdict holds the defendant accountable for violating that trust and for the unlawful s*xual abuse of a patient who did nothing to invite this conduct.”

O’Brien faces a maximum sentence of one year in county jail. Sentencing is scheduled for September 30, 2026, in Department 6 of the San Luis Obispo County Superior Court, the Honorable Michael S. Frye presiding.

The case was investigated by San Luis Obispo Police Department and prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Amy Fitzpatrick. Victim support services were provided by Victim Advocate Tristan Milledge, and witness coordination was provided by Iris Martin.

For the full press release and to view a copy of the charging document, visit our website linked in comments below.
Dan Dow District Attorney San Luis Obispo Police Department

07/27/2026

📣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 has a desire to serve their community by seeking and pursuing justice on behalf of victims of crime. Click on the link in comments below to view the full job descriptions and submit your application. ⚖️
Dan Dow District Attorney California District Attorneys Association

07/23/2026

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.

The charges stem from conduct that began in October 2024 involving neighbors along Orchard Road, a private road in the Templeton area, and continued over the following months. The protected parties in the consolidated matters include eight individual people who live nearby in the neighborhood.

On October 17, 2024, Leader maliciously damaged and defaced personal property belonging to another in an amount exceeding $400. In the months that followed, Leader repeatedly disobeyed a Civil Harassment Prevention Temporary Restraining Order issued by a San Luis Obispo County Superior Court Judge on December 26, 2024.

The conduct underlying the violations included revving his vehicle’s engine so it could be heard by his neighbors and their surveillance cameras, driving on the wrong side of the road and exceeding the posted speed limit, staring at neighbors and making hand gestures toward them, slowing or stopping across from their properties, and shining lights at their homes and cameras at night. The felony vandalism charge is related to Leader’s defacing and destroying private signage owned by the property owners.

On July 22, 2026, Leader pled guilty to one felony count of vandalism causing damage in excess of $400, and to seven misdemeanor counts of disobeying a court order. Leader entered his pleas after agreeing to the amendment and consolidation of the two cases.

Leader was placed on two years of formal felony probation and ordered to serve 30 days in county jail, with a suspended two-year county jail sentence that may be imposed if he violates the terms of his probation. As additional conditions of probation, Leader agreed to flash incarceration, agreed not to seek early termination or reduction of his probation before its full term, and agreed that he will not drive an ATV, quad, or motorcycle on Orchard Road during the entire term of his felony probation. Leader was ordered to pay $684 in restitution to two individuals, and restitution to the other protected parties, if any, remains to be determined.

District Attorney Dan Dow said, “Neighbors don’t have to like one another, but they do have to respect the law and one another’s right to live in peace. When disagreements arise, the answer is to resolve them in a civil and lawful manner — not through vandalism, intimidation, or a relentless campaign of unwanted contact and harassment. It is never okay to terrorize the people who live around you. Our office will continue to stand with victims and to hold accountable those who choose criminal behavior over civil resolution.”

The cases were investigated by the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office and prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Jerry Lulejian. Victim support services were provided by Victim Witness Supervisor Beth Raub and Witness Coordinator Kellie Navarro.

For copies of the defendant's booking photo, charging document, and additional case photos, visit our website linked in comments below.
Dan Dow District Attorney San Luis Obispo County Sheriff's Office

07/22/2026

Elyse Pahler was a 15-year-old Arroyo Grande teenager whose life was tragically cut short on July 22, 1995. Her murder was a profound loss felt across Arroyo Grande and throughout San Luis Obispo County.

But Elyse’s story is not defined by what happened to her. It is defined by who she was, by the love of her family, the friendships she built, and the place she held in this community.

Today, we pause to remember Elyse first and foremost as a daughter, a friend, and a valued member of our community. Her family and friends have carried the grief of her loss for many years. Their strength and their love for Elyse continue to matter, and we recognize the weight of a loss that never truly leaves.

We also recognize that grief and trauma do not follow the timeline of a case. Even when a matter is legally resolved in the criminal and victim justice system, the pain of losing someone can remain for many years.

Our office remains committed to honoring victims with dignity and compassion. If you or someone you know has been impacted by violent crime, our Christopher G. Money Victim Witness Assistance Center may be able to help. Contact them at 805-781-5821.

07/21/2026

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.

"No one who goes to work to serve our community should be beaten for doing the right thing, and no one who steps in to protect a stranger should be attacked for their courage," said District Attorney Dan Dow. "This victim and the good Samaritan who came to his aid showed exactly the kind of character that holds our community together. My office has zero tolerance for violent crime, and this verdict makes clear that those who resort to violence in San Luis Obispo County will be held fully accountable."

Following trial, the jury found Moore guilty of robbery, assault with a deadly weapon, assault by means of force likely to produce great bodily injury, and resisting, obstructing, or delaying a peace officer. The jury acquitted Moore of elder abuse and a lesser included offense. The jury was unable to reach a verdict on a charge of carrying a concealed dirk or dagger, and the court declared a mistrial as to that count.

Today, at a brief court trial, the Judge also found true several factors in aggravation that will be used to support the level of sentencing in this case. The factors are: (1) that the defendant was armed or used a weapon during the commission of the crimes; (2) that the defendant's prior convictions were numerous and of increasing seriousness; (3) that the defendant has served a prior term in prison; and (4) that the defendant's prior performance on community supervision was unsatisfactory.

On December 22, 2025, the 67-year-old victim was working at the Smart & Final store on Johnson Avenue in San Luis Obispo. The victim was in the produce section near the entrance when he saw Moore carrying several food items walk toward the cart area and stop in front of a display of Martinelli's cider. After looking at the display, Moore grabbed a three-pack of cider and walked out of the store without paying for any of the items.

The victim followed Moore out of the store and confronted him about the stolen merchandise. When the victim attempted to grab the cider, Moore began throwing items and striking the victim. Surveillance video captured Moore repeatedly hitting the victim, including swinging the three-pack of cider at him multiple times. The victim was struck on the top of the head by a cider bottle, causing a large lump and redness, and suffered scratches to his face.

A community member who was loading groceries into his vehicle heard Moore yelling and saw him striking the victim, who was on the ground. The citizen ran over and intervened. Moore threw a container of milk at the good Samaritan and then fled the scene on a bicycle. He was not located at that time.

The following day, on December 23, 2025, employees at SLO Ranch Market reported that a person had locked himself in a bathroom and refused to come out, preventing cleaning staff from accessing the closed business. Responding officers from the San Luis Obispo Police Department spent several minutes attempting to persuade the individual to exit before staff provided an override code to open the bathroom. Officers located Moore inside with his belongings, including his bicycle. As officers began placing Moore in handcuffs, an officer observed the tip of a knife protruding from Moore's right front pocket. While retrieving that knife, the officer located a second knife fully concealed inside the same pocket.

Moore faces a maximum sentence of 5 years in state prison. Sentencing is scheduled for August 12, 2026, in Department 9 of the San Luis Obispo County Superior Court, the Honorable Crystal T. Seiler presiding.

This case was investigated by the San Luis Obispo Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Julie Antos. Victim services were provided by the District Attorney's Christopher G. Money Victim Witness Assistance Center, including Victim Advocate Tristan Milledge and Witness Coordinator Eloiza Basinger.

For copies of the defendant's booking photo and charging document, visit our website linked in comments below.
Dan Dow District Attorney San Luis Obispo Police Department

San Luis Obispo County District Attorney

08/12/2026

08/12/2026

08/03/2026

07/30/2026

07/29/2026

07/27/2026

07/23/2026

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