Daily Briefs


Prison guard charged in San Miguel killing has history of bar fights

A prison guard who is charged with manslaughter for his role in a deadly San Miguel bar fight has a history of fighting at alcohol establishments, according to a motion filed by San Luis Obispo County prosecutors. [Tribune] On Sept.... (Continue reading)

Man steals dog from SLO kennel to stop euthanasia

A homeless man broke into San Luis Obispo County Animal Services and retrieved his pit bull mix the night before the dog was scheduled to be euthanized, according to the county sheriff’s office. In October, a judge ruled the pit... (Continue reading)

Federal court upholds California’s death penalty system

A federal appellate court has reversed a ruling that declared California’s capital punishment system unconstitutional. [LA Times] In July 2014, U.S. District Judge Cormac J. Carney ruled California’s death penalty system was unconstitutional, stating executions had become arbitrary and plagued... (Continue reading)

SLO County maintenance supervisor allegedly spied on workers

The maintenance supervisor and lead custodian for the San Luis Obispo County Office of Education secretly recorded, spied on and repeatedly harassed employees, according to claims filed on Oct. 29 by Avila Beach-based attorneys with the Tardiff Law Offices In... (Continue reading)

Cal Poly puts two fraternities on probation

Cal Poly administrators have placed two fraternities on social probation for violating the university’s party registration rules. University officials placed both Alpha Epsilon Pi and Phi Kappa Psi on social probation for the remainder of Fall 2015, according to the... (Continue reading)

Arroyo Grande planning commissioner retains his seat

By KAREN VELIE The Arroyo Grande City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to retain John Mack on the Planning Commission following a conflict of interest complaint filed by developer Nick Tompkins. A vote that surprised most attendees at the meeting. Following... (Continue reading)

Santa Barbara winemaker allegedly embezzled $1.2 million

A Solvang man is accused of embezzling $1.2 million from a Santa Barbara winery he used to manage. [KEYT] Christian Lucas Garvin, 41, worked as the manager and winemaker at Oreana Winery in Santa Barbara from 2005 to 2013. He... (Continue reading)

Vote on Paso Robles water district scheduled

Property owners and registered voters in the Paso Robles groundwater basin will vote early next year on whether or not to form a water regulatory district. On Tuesday, the San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors scheduled three separate vote-by-mail... (Continue reading)

Pismo Beach man with uncontrollable hunger takes plea deal

A 20-year-old Pismo Beach man with a rare genetic disease has pleaded no contest to five misdemeanor charges resulting from times he broke into homes to satisfy his uncontrollable hunger. Tyler Jarvis has Prader-Willi Syndrome, which causes an insatiable desire... (Continue reading)

Deputies save Santa Maria man from self-immolation

A Santa Maria man stopped at a Buellton gas station Saturday night to fill up his pickup. Instead of simply filling up the tank, the man poured gas in the front seat of his truck, as well as all over... (Continue reading)