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Bike SLO County leader headed to trial for child molestation

April 4, 2026

Rick Ellison

By KAREN VELIE

The former executive director of Bike SLO County is headed to trial for allegedly molesting his 6-year-old step-granddaughter in a hot tub, San Luis Obispo County Superior Court Judge Jesse Marino ruled at Richard Ellison’s preliminary hearing on Thursday.

During the hearing, District Attorney Dan Dow called two witnesses, investigator Julia Tatarian with his office and SLO County sheriff’s deputy Kara Dickel, who both testified about their interviews with the child and other family members. Dow also described a letter Ellison later sent the child’s mother apologizing for hurting the child and her family, while leaving out details of his alleged molestation.

On March 30, 2025, the 6-year-old and her parents, who were visiting from Colorado, were having dinner at Ellison’s home in Arroyo Grande. Ellison had nodded off at the dining table while drinking wine before the child asked if she could get into the hot tub, according to witnesses. Ellison agreed to take her.

Later that evening while the child’s mother was getting her ready for bed, the child said that grandpa said we have a secret, according to witnesses. The child then informed her mother that Ellison had taken his trunks off and showed the child his penis.

The child’s mother confronted Ellison the next morning, who did not specifically deny the allegation.

After getting back home, the child’s father questioned her about what happened in the hot tub. The child described touching Ellison’s penis, saying there was “a hard part and a soft part,” according to witnesses. The child also noted that his penis was “hanging” when she saw Ellison change into his suit and “sticking up” while they were in the hot tub.

Ellison’s next hearing is scheduled for May 12.

If convicted, 70-year-old Ellison faces a maximum sentence of three, six, or eight years in prison depending on the circumstances. In addition, the state will also require him to register as a sex offender.

In addition to his role at Bike SLO County, before his retirement Ellison was Cal Poly University’s associate vice president for university advancement.

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For the good of humanity can we please call it a tallywhacker and not a p***s?


-3

As one of the “leaders” of the local bike lobby, look at what they have done to the streets of San Luis Obispo. Millions of $ spent, the vandalism of once great neighborhoods, the unsafe narrowing of streets, the clogging of downtown, and turning us into an obstacle course have destroyed a great small town. Not only has he molested a little child, he’s molested our whole town…


21

Hmmm, bike sexual? A taking for gratification? It is said that pyromaniacs do it for their gratification.


-7

He’s old, and a bicycle lobbyist, and a retired university employee. He enjoys liberal white male privilege. I doubt the judge will sentence him to ANY time in prison. That being the case, he’s lucky the parents didn’t take matters into their own hands before leaving the state.


-1

Saw buck says he’s a registered DemoNcrat.


1

Not the least bit surprising. The left likes to point the finger constantly calling DJT a pedophile or pedophile protector simply on baseless claims when all see how rampant this stuff is throughout the democrat party.


I knew this weirdo was a liberal without you dropping the Saw Buck check. Let’s see what our left has to say about their liberal friend Mr. Rick Ellison.


I wouldn’t be surprised at all if the libtard judge drops his bail below $10,0000.00 and this pedophile is back in our community within a month or so!!!!


3

Confirmed DemoNcrat through public voter registration details.


I had no doubt. It’s (almost) always a deviant DemoNcrat.


#NEVERVoteDemoNcratAgain


#VoteRepublican2026

For a needed SUPER MAJORITY to allow for 47’s E.O.’s to be codified into law for a SAFER and stronger America.


3

Dick didn’t stay in his green lane…


13

So hypocritical of lefties. The fact he worked at Cal Poly disgusts me. I had three sons go there and I hope they never crossed his path. I would say the kid will probably never be the same. I do hope that she can bury this forever.


0

To the gallows!

Of course, if he was buddy’s with Trump he’d have no issue. Downvote all you want, even though you know it’s true. Two. Tiered. Justice.


-8

But the fact is that he wasn’t friends with trump. He was close with local democrats along with being a democrat himself.


Your party is rampant with this kind of sexual predator behavior. Trans people, homosexuals, pedophiles, furries, and child predators are predominantly liberal, it’s always the case.


Those with conservative values, beliefs, and are a person of faith will never associate with this type of behavior or look past it.


Libs justify, look past, and and simply excuse this type of behavior and continue to not hold these monsters accountable over and over again, ESPECIALLY IF THEY ARE IN OUR COUNTRY ILLEGALLY!!!!!!


16

Libocrats have ZERO self-awareness to their endless hypocrisy.


The other option is that they’re ALL pathological LIARS.


4

My party? I don’t have a party, bud. They both suck.

People of faith never associate with this type of behavior? I guess churches and religion aren’t a type of faith. Priests and clergy would never molest children and orchestrate an international cover up. That has not and would not ever happen!


1

Those priests and clergy you speak of that have molested or raped children are not TRUE people of faith!!!! They are simply posing as such putting on a con act to take advantage of the positions and fulfill their deviant obsessions. These priests and clergy you speak of are sexual deviant cons, you and I both know this is true!!!!


THEY ARE NOT AND NEVER WILL BE TRUE MEN AND WOMEN OF FAITH!!!!


NICE TRY BERT!!!! Good back to bed with your lover Ernie!!!!


-4

Damn, grab me some ice for that burn!

Great excuse for sexual abuse in the church. Fantastic. Are you perhaps a lawyer? If not, you should be. I don’t care what god you pray to or don’t. If your tie is blue, red, or yellow. Sexual abuse is perpetrated by people across the board regardless of faith or political affiliation etc. Once your narrow and incorrect view changes, you will start to get it.


2

Not an excuse, just the fact of the matter. You can’t be a true person of faith if you are sexually abusing children, it goes against everything the good book says. The fact that you don’t get that tells me your low IQ is isn’t worth trying to explain it to you with any more depth.


The ice will help with the sting sweetheart!!


-2

Those bike lanes sure have molested the roads in SLO.


29