Front Page  »  

Eye on Ty: Who is the pot dealer backing Lewis’ conspiracy claim?

December 23, 2024

Ernest and Grace Hall

Editor’s note: This is the second in a three-part series regarding Paso Robles City Manager Ty Lewis’ claims of a conspiracy. Read part-one: Eye on Ty: Recording refutes Paso Robles manager’s conspiracy claim.

By KAREN VELIE

When Paso Robles City Manager Ty Lewis failed to get a settlement from the city over alleged work-related stress, he revised his claim to include allegations of harassment and a conspiracy against him. The conspirators, according to Lewis, included City Councilman Chris Bausch and a CalCoastNews reporter.

In an Oct. 18 addendum to his initial claim, Lewis provided statements from two Paso Robles residents to support his allegations of a conspiracy. Ernest Hall, a medical marijuana seller and former restaurant owner, and his wife Grace, made statements supporting Lewis’ allegations. Ernest Hall claimed both Bausch and the reporter organized meetings with critics of Lewis as part of a plan to oust him from office.

Ernest Hall even claimed the reporter admitted to both engaging in a conspiracy and also making up stories about Lewis. The reporter has denied saying those things and denied the allegations about any conspiracy against Lewis.

And since Ernest and Grace Hall became witnesses to support Lewis’ conspiracy claim, the couple has been delivering recreational cannabis in violation of state marijuana regulations.

Hall and his wife have, for years, been trying to get a permit for a recreational pot shop from the Paso Robles City Council.

In 2018, the Paso Robles City Council voted to allow medical cannabis delivery and retail brick and mortar stores by permit only. It did not approve any retail pot shop permits.

In 2018, the city authorized Ernest Hall’s wife Grace Johnson, who also goes by Grace Hall, to deliver medical marijuana products through Dubs Green Garden. Ernest Hall is not named as an owner of Dubs Green Garden.

Ernest Hall has a lengthy criminal history that includes nine arrests in San Luis Obispo County that may have impacted his ability to get a state license.

Ernest Hall’s charges include three for drunk driving, two driving on a suspended license, assault, battery and marijuana possession. He pleaded no contest to his latest charge, felony battery with serious bodily injury in 2017.

In 2019, after getting the authorization to deliver medical marijuana products, Grace and Ernest Hall bought a building at 1124 Black Oak Drive for $935,000, where they planned to put in a retail pot shop. With $15,000 down, the couple purchased the property from Cliff Branch. Branch provided a private loan for the purchase.

In Oct. 2022, the city council discussed modifying its ordinance to allow recreational marijuana delivery services. At the time, Grace Hall said that her company could not compete in North County with out-of-town recreational marijuana delivery services.

During the “discussion only item,” the city council elected to table plans to modify the cannabis ordinance.

Still, Lewis’ office informed the state that the city had approved Dubs Green Garden to deliver recreational cannabis. Even so, without a vote of the council, Dubs Green Garden is not permitted to sell and deliver recreational adult use cannabis, according to the California Department of Cannabis Control.

Paso Robles City Manager Ty Lewis

During a March 13, 2024 radio interview on KPRL, Ernest Hall discussed his issues with the city’s cannabis program. He said that because recreational adult use delivery is now legal in the state, he cannot make a living delivering medical cannabis only because most people no longer carry medical marijuana cards.

Ernest Hall told CalCoastNews that Lewis had promised to help him secure a pot shop permit, but had failed to follow through.

Following the Hall’s support of Lewis’ conspiracy claim, the Paso Robles Daily News published an article under the headline, “Paso Robles cannabis dispensary delivers gummies, drinks, tinctures, and pre-rolls,” with links to the Dubs Green Garden website.

In the article, the Paso Robles Daily News reports Ernest Hall owns Dubs Green Garden, while providing shoppers a link to the online store.

Working with multiple Paso Robles residents who do not have medical marijuana cards, CalCoastNews reporters made screenshots of product orders, the costs and taxes charged through the website. Ernest and Grace Hall then delivered the products while CalCoastNews videotaped their deliveries.

While the state has strict laws regarding delivery of cannabis, the couple delivered to parking lots instead of buildings as required, delivered products different from what was listed on their website, and at times failed to provide required receipts.

On the receipts, Dubs Green Garden charged the recreational cannabis buyers taxes of 29.75%. Questions remain about whether the taxes are being remitted to the proper agencies.

On April 2, the California Franchise Tax Board suspended Dubs Green Garden Inc., according to the California Secretary of State. As a result, Dubs Green Garden cannot legally operate, conduct financial transactions, or enter into new contracts.

Ernest Hall refused to discuss the allegations with CalCoastNews, instead providing his attorney’s name.

On Dec. 11, Cliff Branch emailed Mayor John Hamon reminding him that the city manager’s office said the council would revisit Ernest and Grace Hall’s request for a pot shop permit following the November election.

“I am hoping the council can revisit the city’s policy on cannabis, and find a way to allow the Halls to run a retail business from their current location,” Branch wrote in his email. “A retail permit could allow their family to afford additional security, regular cleanup, and their business would also provide the city with additional revenue.”

Read part-three, Shedding light on Paso manager’s multi-million-dollar claim.

Because we believe the public needs the facts, the truth, CalCoastNews has not put up a paywall because it limits readership. However, we are seeking qualification as a paper of record, which will allow us to publish public notices, this requires 5,000 paid subscribers.

Your subscription will help us to continue investigating and reporting the news.

Support CalCoastNews, subscribe today, click here.

 


Loading...
Subjects:         
Related:


33 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

Two points:


First, I’ve been around long enough to remember when Cliff Branch was worthy of respect. Not after reading this. So disappointing.


Second, the handwriting is on the media wall–this county can only support one print news source. The Tribune is shi**ng its pants because advertisers and readership are plummeting. Only one will be here three years from now, so the Trib has no choice but to take Velie/CCN out and they apparently will stop at nothing.


Trust me, peeps. This is about to get very ugly.


4

If these idiots were even a little smart, they would back off the bots on here…Everyone knows the Tribune is trash and has been for many years. Karen Velie and CCN are doing a great job!


13

Has the City of Paso Robles examined the City Manager’s complaint and made any determinations in terms of defense of damage claim coverage?


Does the complaint have sworn affidavits and factual evidence to support the demand?


If so, is that public information and is the City Council willing to release that??


Seems like that should be the first step and initial focus possibly?


16

Tribune and CCN, examples of attack journalism vs investigative journalism.

Yesterday Tribune published two pieces appearing to cast aspersions and discredit CCN’s recent articles on Paso Robles City Manager Ty Lewis, and thwart future ones. Same tactics Tribune used when CCN reported on Adam Hill, Helios Dayspring, Integrated Waste Management, Kelly Gearheart etc etc., exposing their corruption which led to charges, and in many cases, arrests.

Tribune is on the attack once again while CCN keeps investigating.

Question is, who is the Tribune covering for now and why?


11

Clearly Karen has heard said tape, Release the entire unedited tape through a link and let the readers decide for themselves. Anything less than that is unethical and lacks journalistic integrity.


43

Ty Lewis is attempting to defraud the taxpayers out of more than $2 million. Ty claims that meeting was to tell Chris Bausch to stop harassing him. A claim supported by John Hamon. The tape shows it was about criticizing Bausch for not falling in line, not for harassment. While Ty continues to make false claims, I say do not release the entire tape until his period to sue is over and then seek fraud charges against Ty for the many provable falsehoods he put in his claim. With the misinformation being spread, I think its best to let a court decide who is telling the truth. The insurance company clearly did not believe Ty’s ridiculous claims.


6

This level of pushback and drama from a city manager is unprecedented. He must have a lot to hide. Same with the Trib. Somehow they always land on the side of the criminals!


-12

The Tribune has become an embarrassment. So they ask Ernest if this story is accurate, he says there are things wrong with the story. but the reporters do not ask what. Clearly, the goal is to protect Ty and Ernest while throwing shade on a competitor. Information and facts no longer matter. The Tribune trashed CalCoastNews and supported Helios Dayspring until he was indicted because of CalCoastNews. Back then, the Tribune did some good work, though now they seem to only investigate other reporters while playing cheerleader for public officials. Sad for the community.


3

The Tribune’s paper copy this week has a photo of Karen Velie on the cover. It appears half the paper copies during the past month have Karen Velie on the cover. They should change their name to the SLO Enquirer. While Trib reporters order Karen Velie to divulge who and how she gets information, it appears their reporters are unaware of California’s Reporter Shield Law that allows reporters to protect their sources. What will they do in the end? Probably claim it was their investigation in the first place and then seek investigative awards.


-6

It’s a shame McClatchy pays its writers to go after CCN’S reporting rather than to investigate and report for themselves the goings-on in the county. Imagine what a better place SLO would be if they did.


8

Was Ty Lewis aware of Ernest operating an illegal dispensary while he was still police chief and just turned a blind eye to it?


-17

Lewis ‘s main goal is to secure a big $$$$$ pension before retirement or a disability claim.


0

Seems very nice of Cliff Branch to loan this upstanding couple $920K to start this much needed enterprise.


35

Looks like someone (AO?) has learned how to use bots to “vote” down on comments. Illegal?


-18

Looks like someone got a new toy for Christmas


-12

I agree, it is so obvious. Someone really dosent like real investigative reporting.


-2
1 2 3