Templeton advisory group members support felon, mock victims

August 23, 2026

David Leader captured on camera trespassing on neighbor’s property

By KAREN VELIE

All but one Templeton Area Advisory Group board member voiced support for David Leader, chair of the board and recently convicted felon. The board members mocked Leader’s victims during a contentious meeting on Thursday.

A day earlier, a judge sentenced 71-year-old Leader to 30 days in jail for one felony count of vandalism and seven charges of violating restraining orders. While a handful of victims read their statements, Leader snickered.

As part of the court order and multiple restraining orders, Leader is required to stay at least 100 yards away from eight of his victims.

Even though Leader pleaded guilty, he has continued to chair the advisory group meetings.

Before the start of Thursday’s meeting, protected party Tamara Stavrianoudakis sent an email to inform the Templeton advisory group that there would be three residents with restraining orders against Leader at the board meeting. Leader responded by demeaning the victim while arguing he did not have to abide by the restraining orders.

“This is the ‘wicked’ neighbor who has been trying to have me removed from office for some time now,” Leader wrote in an email. “She is completely wrong and I am alerting the sheriff’s office now. I will not be leaving this meeting.”

Leader has convinced the majority of his fellow board members that he is the victim.

Several years ago, Leader and others in his neighborhood quarreled over a road designation. Leader needed access through a neighbor’s property in order to operate a bed and breakfast at his residence. Leader then began harassing his neighbors.

At first, the neighbors’ requests for restraining orders against Leader were denied.

The neighbors then posted security cameras and produced hundreds of videos showing Leader trespassing, vandalizing property, shouting obscenities, making threats while carrying a firearm and harassing his neighbors at night – resulting in multiple restraining orders that Leader repeatedly violated.

Sign designating a private road vandalized

Facing 32 criminal charges related to violating restraining and court orders, vandalism and petty theft – leader agreed to plead guilty to eight charges

Shortly after the Aug. 20 board meeting started, Board Member Murray Powell attempted to discuss Leader’s attendance in violation of the restraining orders under item three, roll call. Leader responded by saying they needed to have a deputy remove Powell from the meeting, Powell said.

San Luis Obispo County Sheriff Commander Sandra Arauza then spoke with one of the protected parties, before asking Leader to voluntarily leave the meeting while she reviewed the issue. Leader then waited outside the building, returning about two hours later, after his victims had left the building

The Templeton advisory group serves as a voice for Templeton residents, providing input to SLO County on planning, land use, public safety, and community development. Regardless, the county has final authority on all decisions.

Unlike the county, which abides by the Brown Act, the Templeton advisory group follows board-approved bylaws that included a rule prohibiting felons from serving on the board.

At Thursday’s meeting, the Templeton advisory board voted 5-1 to remove from the bylaws the rule prohibiting felons from serving on the board, with Powell dissenting. Members of the audience described the board members mocking the victims during the meeting.

Restraining orders bar restrained individuals from being within 100 yards of their victims. Victim are not restrained. For example, if a protected person enters a restaurant where a restrained person is eating, the restrained person is required to leave immediately.

If a protected person attends a Templeton advisory group meeting, Leader is required to stay at least 100 yards from the person, according to SLO County District Attorney Dan Dow.

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