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SLO building inspector in jail, no longer employed

September 19, 2019

Chris Olcott’s victim unconscious on the cement floor

By KAREN VELIE

A San Luis Obispo city inspector who violently assaulted a woman in 2016 was allegedly terminated on Wednesday, according to a city staffer. [Cal Coast Times]

Several months ago, a lengthy investigation into Christopher Olcott’s work and criminal history concluded with a plan to terminate the controversial employee. Even so, until Olcott checked himself into a pay-to-stay jail, he remained on paid administrative leave.

After downing several drinks at Mr. Rick’s in Avila Beach, Olcott hit Camile Chavez, a special education teacher at Righetti High School, in the temple with his elbow, knocking her unconscious. Olcott then punched Chavez’s companion, Isaac McCormack, in the back of the head three times. Both Chavez and McCormack suffered concussions during the assault.

In Jan. 2018, Olcott stood trial for felony and misdemeanor charges of battery. The 13 day trial resulted in a hung jury, with at least one juror concerned with Olcott possibly losing his job over “two drunk Mexicans in a bar.”

Olcott later pleaded guilty to the misdemeanor assault charge in exchange for a dismissal of the felony charge. The court sentenced Olcott to 60 days in jail with a three-year suspended sentence, and ordered him to take alcohol addiction classes.

Chris Olcott

Amid public outrage over the assault, in April, City Manager Derek Johnson placed Olcott on paid administrative leave. The city then hired a private investigator while Olcott earned $1,420 a week in paid administrative leave.

Prior to Olcott’s conviction, several coworkers voiced concerns over the inspector’s alleged workplace transgressions which include accepting a gift card from a developer after doing an inspection and for yelling at a female coworker, staffers said.

On Aug. 30, Olcott began serving his sentence at the Seal Beach Detention Center. At that time, management placed him on unpaid administrative leave. On Wednesday, the city officially ended Olcott’s employment.


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Finally, dear God.


1

Uh, not to digress to the Poly days, but hey, while the handsome guys did well, certain of us of AVERAGE corporal appearance had to frankly DEPEND upon the presence of (please excuse the crass phrase) “drunken Mexicans” in bars and taverns. Maybe the juror was having a flashback? Or to lovely crème-skinned Costa Ricans, jet black hair, in the SLO evening air, etc.


Just so long as a little alcohol was involved. Oh those happy dating days………..


-1

“…with at least one juror concerned with Olcott possibly losing his job over “two drunk Mexicans in a bar…” <— How could a POS like this make it onto a jury? Damned sad.


14

You have to ask with DA Dan Dow, not surprised his crew would allow a person like that be a juror.


8

Hang on one second Im feeling suck to my stomach…


1

A word of warning to all of you tough guys out there with unchecked tempers…there are cameras everywhere and they can ruin your life…..


15

Particularly fat-boy cowards who elbow (to the head) females…


12

I’ll bet there will be a nice fat law suit waiting for him when he gets out of the Hilton….


23

and he will be suing to get his job back you know, thanks public sector unions.


1

Interesting that the obviously racist juror got thru the screening process on a case like this. Good example of how being racist or having racists in a society can hurt everyone. It was patently obvious who the violent aggressor was in this case. Who would even want that guy coming to inspect their property?


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