Uncovered SLO


Gearhart sentenced, cuffed, headed to prison

Updated at 6 p.m. By KAREN VELIE and DANIEL BLACKBURN Notorious North County developer Kelly Gearhart was sentenced to 14 years in federal prison Thursday morning by U.S. District Court Judge Otis Wright II in Los Angeles. Gearhart, 54, was... (Continue reading)

SLO Laureate School shuttered, no warning to parents

By KAREN VELIE Parents attempting to drop their children off on Wednesday morning at the Laureate School in San Luis Obispo were informed the owners of the school had been evicted and the school was closed. The Laureate School is... (Continue reading)

Judge asks why Cuesta Title was not indicted

By KAREN VELIE During the first day of former North County developer Kelly Gearhart’s sentencing hearing, Gearhart’s attorney attempted to paint his client as a previously honest man whose missteps were a result of the downturn in the market while... (Continue reading)

Kelly Gearhart blames lenders, claims he is a victim

By KAREN VELIE Former North County developer Kelly Gearhart contends that employees of Heritage Oaks Bank and Hurst Financial were primarily responsible for defrauding more than 1,200 investors out of more than $100 million. The prosecution argues that Gearhart lulled... (Continue reading)

Sex offender files lawsuit against Grover Beach

By KAREN VELIE A registered sex offender filed a federal lawsuit last week against the city of Grover Beach challenging an ordinance that makes it a crime for sex offenders to set up residency in most of the city. The... (Continue reading)

Cuesta College analyst arrested

By KAREN VELIE UPDATE: Statement from Cuesta College, ““Cuesta College follows Education Code when hiring. There is a question in the official application that asks specifically about criminal offenses. Controlled substances and sex crimes are the only two things that... (Continue reading)

Cuesta College breach led to drug bust

By KAREN VELIE While serving a search warrant at the home of a Cuesta College Human Resources analyst suspected of misappropriation of employee personal information, investigators discovered more than four pounds of methamphetamine and heroin. On May 31, a Cuesta... (Continue reading)

Cal Poly faculty unrest leads to vote of no confidence in Ag dean

By KAREN VELIE Faculty discontent boiled over in the College of Agriculture with a majority of faculty giving Agriculture Dean Andrew Thulin a vote of no-confidence. It is the latest development in a spring of faculty and staff resentment over... (Continue reading)

Cuesta College losing 35,000 gallons of water daily

By KAREN VELIE Amid a four-year drought, Cuesta College in San Luis Obispo has nearly doubled its water usage primarily because of a leaking pool. And college officials plan to keep the pool open while putting off any substantial repairs... (Continue reading)

Rod Jarmin and Tammy Jordan’s trial starts Monday

By KAREN VELIE Four years after they were arrested for seven counts of fraud and embezzlement, Real Property Lenders (RPL) of Paso Robles principals Rod Jarmin and Tammy Jordan’s trial will begin on Monday. In April 2014, Jarmin, 76, and... (Continue reading)