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Man found guilty of assaulting clerk in San Luis Obispo

July 20, 2026

Robert Wade Moore IV

By KAREN VELIE

A jury convicted a 40-year-old San Luis Obispo man of robbing a Smart & Final and assaulting a 67-year-old grocery store employee.

Robert Wade Moore IV was found guilty of robbery, assault with a deadly weapon, assault by means of force likely to produce great bodily injury, and resisting a peace officer. He faces up to five years in prison.

On Dec. 22, 2025, the 67-year-old victim was working at the Smart & Final store on Johnson Avenue in San Luis Obispo. The victim was in the produce section near the entrance when he saw Moore, who was carrying several food items, grab a three-pack of cider and walked out of the store without paying for any of the items.

The victim followed Moore out of the store and confronted him about the stolen merchandise. When the victim attempted to grab the cider, Moore began throwing items and striking the victim.

Surveillance video captured Moore repeatedly hitting the victim, including swinging the three-pack of cider at him multiple times. Moore also struck the victim on the top of the head with a cider bottle, causing a large lump.

A man loading groceries into his vehicle heard Moore yelling and saw him striking the victim, who was on the ground. The citizen ran over and intervened.

Moore threw a container of milk at the good Samaritan and then fled the scene on a bicycle.

“No one who goes to work to serve our community should be beaten for doing the right thing, and no one who steps in to protect a stranger should be attacked for their courage,” said District Attorney Dan Dow. “This victim and the good Samaritan who came to his aid showed exactly the kind of character that holds our community together.”

The following day, employees at SLO Ranch Market reported a man had locked himself in a bathroom and refused to come out, preventing cleaning staff from accessing the closed business.

Officers located Moore inside the bathroom with his belongings, including his bicycle. As officers placed Moore in handcuffs, they discovered he had two knives on him.

Sentencing is scheduled for Aug. 12.

 


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17 Comments

The safety and legal liabilities of an injured employee are vastly more expensive than lost merchandise.


-1

We all know what’s going to happen on Aug 12th. Some incapable Judge is going to put him on probation, (which he will never go to report to). Instead of giving this guy real help, keep him off the streets until he sobers up, and sends him to an institution that will offer real mental health treatment. He will be released to offend again, and use that revolving door to free meals and shelter, just to kick him out of jail after the next homeless sweep. AKA NO real help or consideration for his victims.


13

And this is why instead of allowing our leaders to ignore the plight of homelessness, allowing Billions to just disappear, we need to put people like this guy in a place where he can get help, stability and assistance. We need a PRATT in SLO!


4

He needs to serve hard time behind bars, it’s not any more complex than that. Serve enough time, people will stop doing this crap.


0

Another homeless phuggktard that the tree hitters thinks only needs compassion and a free pass through life.


He needs a good old azs kickin and forced into breaking big rocks into pebbles for as long as it takes to make IT become useful in society.


I’d personally lock it up and throw away the key at this point.


Only 5 years for that unprovoked assault on a senior is embarrassing.


5

*tree huggers (Libocrats)


-3

Obviously a bum, how much longer must we tolerate them destroying our towns and hurting good people?


17

The IV one’s a loser.


2

And assaulting an elderly person… what kind of person assaults an old guy trying to earn a living…


27

The IV???? I’m sure he makes his father, grandfather, and great-grandfather proud.


25

Just acquiring a little cider for the parched lips of Robert Wade Moore V.


5

But Newsom said if it’s under $950.00 they should just be able to walk out of the store without paying. According to him, Mr. Moore should not have been stopped, Thank goodness this tine Dan Dow got it right. Kudos to the store employee and the person who came to his assistance.


28

As the saying goes, “Even a broke clock is right twice a day”


-8

Five years in prison for this scumbag and probation for the two thugs that beat up a homeless man and bragged about it? Dow gets it right?


1

My question is how much is Newsom going to walk away with?


0
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