April, 2009

Tribe’s casino pact with white men suspect

By KAREN VELIE and DANIEL BLACKBURN A secret, decade-long, eight-phase strategy by a group of local investors – including one notorious individual now under investigation for fraud – outlines plans for construction of a Indian gaming casino in San Luis Obispo... (Continue reading)

EFI judge slashes lawyer fees

By KAREN VELIE A federal bankruptcy judge slashed fee requests and ordered professionals working on the Estate Financial Inc. (EFI) bankruptcy to practice frugality in an attempt to protect assets for EFI investors at a hearing on Wednesday in Santa Barbara... (Continue reading)

Los Osos sewer project tainted by ’expired’ crime

By DANIEL BLACKBURN County planning commissioners Thursday will consider a proposal for construction of Los Osos’ contentious wastewater project, a mission now shadowed by a documented crime. Despite the existence of substantial evidence of unlawful backdating of key contract agreements, executed by... (Continue reading)

Atascadero man suspected of beastiality, producing child porn

By KAREN VELIE A multi-agency task force is investigating a subcontractor with the California Men’s Colony after discovering videos of the man having sexual relations with both a child and his dog, sources said. Suspecting the 49-year-old plumber of marijuana, narcotics, and... (Continue reading)

Grand Jury wants fix of sheriff’s evidence lockers

By DANIEL BLACKBURN Property room policies and procedures followed by sheriff’s deputies are “lax” in some instances, and the 2008-09 San Luis Obispo County Grand Jury has recommended updates and monitoring of those facilities. CalCoastNews reported in December 2008 that problems existed... (Continue reading)

Ambushed by SLO law and order

By KAREN VELIE A Morro Bay man wrongly accused of two robberies now attributed to the notorious and just-captured “Sleeves Bandit” remains in county jail as San Luis Obispo police and district attorney’s officials seek a graceful exit from a potentially... (Continue reading)

Hurst’s Miller alleges Shores brothers defrauded investors

By KAREN VELIE Prominent North County developer Jimmie Shores says he doesn’t have to repay a $700,000 hard-money loan because his brother, Ronnie Shores, stole the money, while Hurst Financial President Jay Miller, maintains the Shores are trying to defraud investors. “I... (Continue reading)

Heritage Oaks Bank versus the investors

By KAREN VELIE and DANIEL BLACKBURN Heritage Oaks Bank is battling with Estate Financial Inc. and Hurst Financial investors over first place in the quest for financial compensation. Attorneys for the bank are chasing first position in the pursuit for assets of... (Continue reading)

Chancellor immobilizes Cal Poly’s proposed fee increase

By KAREN VELIE California State University Chancellor Charles B. Reed informed California Polytechnic State University President Warren Baker that he will not approve a student fee increase at this time, said Cal Poly Provost Bob Koob Tuesday. Students voted earlier this month... (Continue reading)