San Luis Obispo developer’s sentencing delayed a fourth time

July 1, 2019

By KAREN VELIE

The sentencing of a developer with close ties to San Luis Obispo County Supervisor Adam Hill was delayed again, this time to allow the court to consider Ryan Petetit’s sentencing suggestions. [Cal Coast Times]

For the fourth time this year, Petetit’s sentencing for both a 2015 violent assault, and a trial setting conference regarding a drunk in public and resisting arrest case from 2012 were delayed, this time until July 10. Last year, Petetit plead guilty to five felony counts regarding the 2015 violent beating he inflicted on his then 23-year-old girlfriend.

At each sentencing hearing, Petetit has argued for a continuation. On June 27, Petetit filed a sentencing memorandum asking Judge Dodie Harman to sentence him to 90 days in jail for the five felony assault charges.

In the past seven years since Petetit co-founded PB Companies with John Belsher, Petetit has been charged with nine felonies and six misdemeanors including multiple charges related to domestic violence, several for writing bad checks and others for public intoxication. Up until now, Petetit has avoided serving jail time.

Despite having real estate projects in bankruptcy, dozens of tax liens and multiple lawsuits from contractors and vendors suing them for failing to pay their bills, developers Petetit and Belsher remain closely connected to several public officials including Supervisor Hill, SLO Police Chief Deanna Cantrell, and former SLO mayor Jan Marx.

 

In 2015, Supervisor Hill served as a paid consultant for a limited liability corporation affiliated with Petetit and Belsher’s PB Companies, whose project plans Hill openly promoted, government records show.

As a county supervisor representing District 3, Hill has worked to change planning in areas where PB Companies or its principals have interests in construction projects. Hill has also dined with judges assigned to cases regarding Petetit, Belsher or their many companies.

Petetit’s recent criminal history

On Nov. 13, 2018, Petetit plead guilty to assault with great bodily injury, false imprisonment with force, dissuading a witness, and two charges of inflicting corporal injury on a cohabitant. He was scheduled for sentencing in January.

However, on Jan. 17, San Luis Obispo County Judge Barry LaBarbera agreed to a three month delay in sentencing so Petetit could legally change his name to Ryan Joseph Wright. At that time, the trial setting conference for his 2012 arrest was also delayed.

On April 24, Petetit’s attorney, Patrick Fisher, asked to speak to Judge Dodie Harman in chambers to discuss another extension, until after a June hearing in Los Angeles over an objection to Petetit’s requested name change. However, because the assistant district attorney assigned to the case, Kristy Imel, was not at the hearing, Harman declined the meeting and set a sentencing hearing for May 2.

On May, 2, Harman continued the sentencing hearing until late June to allow the SLO County Probation Department time to produce another sentencing report, this one to include a mental health evaluation.

On June 27, Petetit submitted a sentencing memorandum asking Harman to sentence him to 90 days in the San Luis Obispo County Jail for the five felony counts related to the 2015 assault.

On July 10, Petetit is scheduled for sentencing for the assault conviction, and also for a trial setting conference for the 2012 drunk in public and obstruction arrest.