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Templeton advisory chair handcuffed, arrested at court

April 3, 2026

David Leader

By KAREN VELIE

A deputy placed the chair of the combative Templeton Area Advisory Group in handcuffs on Friday at the end of a hearing regarding a motion to revoke bail after the judge determined David Leader violated multiple restraining orders.

During the hearing, three neighbors and two deputies testified against 70-year-old Leader. Leader is facing 26 criminal charges related to violating multiple restraining and court orders, vandalism and petty theft.

San Luis Obispo County Superior Court Judge Erin Childs ruled that Leader had continued to violate restraining orders. She then revoked his previous bail, and ordered him taken into custody with his bail set at $300,000 in two cases.

Several years ago, Leader and others in his neighborhood disagreed over a road designation and access.

Following the disagreement, multiple neighbors filed for and received restraining orders against Leader, according to court records. Neighbors accused Leader of trespassing, shouting obscenities and making threats, at times while carrying a firearm.

In total, the court granted three restraining orders to protect eight neighbors. The neighbors then put up video cameras which allegedly captured Leader repeatedly violating the court orders, including taking a neighbor’s surveillance camera.

Leader’s trial is scheduled to begin on April 27.

Disagreements over agency bylaws led to another contentious Templeton Area Advisory Group meeting in March and threats by Leader to oust a board member if he continued to disagree with other members over the requirement to follow the bylaws.

As board members sparred during the March 19 meeting, San Luis Obispo County Supervisor John Pecshong asked if he could give his report on updates and information important to the Templeton area. However, the members failed to address Peschong’s request and he eventually left without giving his report.

Even though Leader is facing 26 criminal charges, the board voted him serve as chair of the embattled agency.

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I have lived in the Templeton Community Services District since 1986. I cannot think of one positive thing TAAG has done for this community since it’s existence. They are not elected and do not ‘Advise’ based on what the community members actually want. As far as I’m concerned they are an incompetent, dysfunctional group that does nothing to make Templeton a better place to live.


4

Looks like Mr. Leader is a lousy leader…


14

I’m really surprised. I’ve had some interactions with him and thought he was a really good guy. I wonder about his health. I hope he is not suffering from something that could seriously affect his behavior. We both agreed that TAAG needed to have a positive image in the community and work cooperatively with the Supervisors and politely help them make decisions.


0

and here I thought only Oceano had soap opera worthy meetings


17

You could swap “Templeton” in this story with just about any “HOA” and run with it.


25

David Leader seems to be a menace to his immediate neighbors and to the citizens of Templeton at large. If we are to consider TAAG as a trusted representative of this community, then why do we allow David Leader to participate? He should resign with dignity or be fired.


59

$300k bail!? But if an illegal in a truck murders someone in the county they are allowed to walk free


13

I think Mr. Leader is a very troubled man, but that being said, my personal experience with Judge Childs while attempting to get a restraining order of my own against my frightening, mentally ill adult child, remains a bad memory. Her lack of sympathy (fake neutrality?) and indeed, impatience, for someone who had never been in my situation–in court and being stuck with a confusing zoom process no less during Covid was disheartening. I would do a lot to avoid being in her courtroom ever again.


7