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Former Gala Pride and Diversity Center director sentenced to jail

June 25, 2026

By KAREN VELIE

The 46-year-old former director of the San Luis Obispo Gala Pride and Diversity Center was sentenced to 90 days in jail after he pleaded guilty to two counts of embezzlement. Prior to his sentencing, Dustin Robert Colyerworth paid $59,302 in restitution.

Beginning in Nov. 2022 and ending in Oct. 2024, Colyerworth took advantage of his position of trust at Gala to embezzle tens of thousands of dollars from the nonprofit organization.

Colyerworth pled guilty in May to two felony counts of grand theft by embezzlement. He also admitted three factors in aggravation and agreed to pay restitution.

In exchange for his pleas and admissions, the District Attorney’s Office agreed to recommend that the court place Colyerworth on two years of formal felony probation on the condition that he serve 90 days in county jail and comply with other standard terms and conditions of probation.

If Colyerworth violates probation, he faces a maximum sentence of 3 years, 8 months in county jail.

 


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6 Comments

This is the second case recently that the DA has successfully gotten the victims of embezzlement their money back and seem to believe that included interest for the victims and court fines. This should be lauded as well as the success in getting the perpetrators to admit through pleas and save some court costs and valuable resources. Both this case and the one involving the probation officer resulted in the perpetrators facing some jail time and probation as punishment for their crimes. It also seems in this instance that the victims agreed to the plea deal and participated in the process. Think Dow did an excellent job with these two cases in balancing the punishment, restitution, court resources and efficiency, making the victims financially whole and holding getting the perps t to admit, stand responsible for and accept the punishment for their wrongs. Rather amazing given the financial and staffing constraints Pontes and the BOS have created for Mr. Dow.


24

So just 90 days in county, (can this be done over weekends?, 30 weekends before reduction), and pay back what you stole?, no penalty, interest, fine?? more easy on crime…. but officials will still call this a win.


25

That community is rife with criminal elements. Some just steal, others murder.


12

LGBTQ+ individuals are disproportionately the victims of violent crime rather than perpetrators. Research indicates that LGBTQ+ people are over four times more likely to experience violent victimization than non-LGBTQ+ individuals.


https://williamsinstitute.law.ucla.edu/press/lgbt-volent-crime-press-release/


-3

Dustin Robert Colyerworth embezzles tens of thousands of dollars . Then Dustin pays $59,302 in restitution. It semes to me , the Gala center is taking it in both directions .


7

I guess that’s how they roll.


3