Daily Briefs


Judge sentences ASH patient who strangled roommate

A former Atascadero State Hospital patient received a sentence of 25 years to life in prison for strangling to death his roommate at ASH. Adam Paul Cary, 35, was convicted of killing Allan Turner, 53. [Tribune] Late last month, Cary... (Continue reading)

Tim Covello appointed SLO Superior Court Commissioner

The San Luis Obispo County Superior Court judges voted unanimously Tuesday to appoint former Assistant District  Attorney Tim Covello to replace Stephen Sefton. Sefton passed away on Jan. 9 after a brief illness. Because of the untimely death of Sefton,... (Continue reading)

John Wallace facing a criminal investigation

The South San Luis Obispo County Sanitation District Board of Directors voted unanimously Wednesday to take reports of malfeasance by former district administrator John Wallace to District Attorney Dan Dow, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Attorney General Kamala Harris.... (Continue reading)

Pot dispensary owners sue SLO County

The owners of Ethnobotanica, a nonprofit medical marijuana delivery service, have sued San Luis Obispo County over the board of supervisors decision to reject a proposed brick and mortar dispensary in Nipomo. San Luis Obispo attorney Babak Nacify filed a... (Continue reading)

Lompoc woman arrested for letting toddler freeze

Lompoc police arrested a 27-year-old woman after finding her one-and-a-half-year-old child barefoot with feet that had turned blue. The child was freezing, malnourished and dehydrated, police say. [KCOY] Officers responded to the corner of Ocean and I streets after a... (Continue reading)

Deputies chase alleged child molester on Highway 101

A man accused of sexually penetrating a child under the age of 14 led sheriff’s deputies on a chase through Arroyo Grande and Pismo Beach and into San Luis Obispo. The Highway 101 pursuit never reached speeds above 65 mph,... (Continue reading)

California Coastal Commission director under fire

Amid a battle between environmentalists and pro-development commissioners, a move to oust the California Coastal Commission executive director is under way. On Jan. 14, Commission Chair Steve Kinsey informed Executive Director Charles Lester that the 12-member panel will consider whether... (Continue reading)

Vandals target Santa Margarita senior center

San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s investigators are searching for vandals who have taken aim at the Santa Margarita Area Senior Center. [KSBY] The senior center has been vandalized three times over the past month. On two separate occasions, vulgar graffiti... (Continue reading)

Vehicle slams into tree near Avila Beach

A person suffered major injuries Wednesday morning after crashing into a tree near Avila Beach. [KSBY] The driver hit a tree near the intersection of of See Canyon Road and San Luis Bay Drive, according to the CHP. The crash... (Continue reading)

Alleged child molester claims erectile dysfunction defense

A judge declared a mistrial Tuesday in the case of a San Miguel man who reportedly plans to use erectile dysfunction as a defense against child molestation charges. [Tribune] Jose Antonio Rojas Barriga, 60, is accuse of molesting two boys.... (Continue reading)