News Briefs: North San Luis Obispo County

Paso Robles

Paso Robles Police Serve NarcoticsBased Search Warrant

On Tuesday afternoon, Paso Robles Police Department (PRPD) executed a search warrant in the 900 Block of St Ann Drive.

In a press release from PRPD, it was said officers recovered controlled substances, paraphernalia, and other evidence to support an ongoing drug sales investigation.

Officers arrested Ashley Cook (30) of Paso Robles and Stephen Chargin (34) of Paso Robles for drug-related offenses. Both were booked at the San Luis Obispo County Jail.

This is an ongoing investigation, and the Paso Robles Police Department is requesting anyone with any information to call the PRPD at (805) 237-6464 or persons wishing to remain anonymous are encouraged to call Crime Stoppers’ 24-hour hotline at 805-549-STOP or by texting “SLOTIPS” plus your message” to CRIMES (274637).

CERT Flood Response Training Coming to Paso Robles February

Members of the North San Luis Obispo County Community Emergency Response Team, most often simply referred to as CERT, responded to assist the city of Paso Robles during the January winter storm. CERT team members were available to assist in sandbagging, traffic management, and logistical support of other city functions.

CERT is a national program sponsored locally by Paso Robles Fire and Emergency Services with standardized training provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. There are approximately 2,400 sponsored CERT programs across the country with more than 600,000 trained CERT volunteers.

Each local volunteer had completed CERT Basic Training, a 20-hour course in which they receive training in emergency management fundamentals, basic first aid, fire extinguisher use, search and rescue techniques, hazardous materials, and disaster psychology. Most of the volunteers had also attended supplemental classes in flood response, traffic and crowd management, and emergency radio communications.

The North San Luis Obispo County CERT program is offering their next CERT Basic Training class at the Paso Robles Public Safety Center, 900 Park Street in downtown Paso Robles. The class will meet on February 21, 23, 28, and March 2 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. and March 4 from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. There is no cost for students attending this class.

For online registration, go to bit. ly/3ZE8NL0, or you may email NorthSLOCountyCERT@gmail. com, and indicate that you would like to register for the CERT Basic Training class. Please be sure to provide a telephone number when registering by email. If you have any questions, you may call John Spooner, the Program Manager, at (805) 588-2172.

Atascadero

Open House Scheduled for Downtown Infrastructure Enhancement Plan

The City of Atascadero will be hosting a series of Open House dates, both in-person and virtually, beginning Tuesday, Jan. 31, through Friday, Feb. 17. The Open Houses will provide opportunities for everyone to be involved in shaping the decisions for the future Downtown Infrastructure Enhancement Plan.

The “El Camino Real Downtown Infrastructure Enhancement Plan” has been developed and refined since the project was initiated in August of 2017. Since that time, multiple options have been considered, with preferred design alternatives refined through a process of public input and technical analysis of traffic and safety considerations. The overall objective of the project is to develop a holistic traffic calming and corridor plan along the El Camino Real Corridor that considers the needs of all multimodal users, residents and businesses. It will prioritize pedestrian, bicycle and vehicle safety, while providing economic benefits for the downtown, vehicular traffic needs, emergency response, increased parking and aesthetic improvements intended to create a cohesive downtown center. The Open House will provide an opportunity to review updates to the project, ask questions, provide input and be involved in the final plan.

Open House schedule:

Tuesday, Jan. 31 2 to 4 p.m.

In-person City Hall, Room 106

Wednesday, Feb. 1

6 to 8 p.m.

In-person City Hall, Room 106

Thursday, Feb. 2 9–11 a.m.

Virtual*

Friday, Feb. 3 12 to 2 p.m.

In-person City Hall, Room 106

Saturday, Feb. 4 9 to 11 a.m.

In-person City Hall, Room 106

Monday, Feb. 13

8:30 to 10:30 a.m.

Virtual*

Tuesday, Feb. 14 12 to 2 p.m.

In-person City Hall, Room 106

Thursday, Feb. 16

6 to 8 p.m.

Virtual*

Friday, Feb. 17 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.

In-person City Hall, Room 106

*Zoom Login: us02web.zoom. us/j/2580252681; Meeting ID: 258 025 2681

For more information, about the Downtown Infrastructure Enhancement Plan go to Atascadero.org.

San Luis Obispo County

Former Atascadero Teacher Arrested for Threats Made

Klink was booked into county jail on Jan. 17 and remains in custody

ATASCADERO — A former Atascadero

Unified School District (AUSD) teacher has been arrested for making threats to current district employees.

Atascadero Police Department (APD) released information stating that they were notified of the threats in early January, “The threats were serious in nature and as a result, the Police Department conducted an investigation,” the APD said.

James S. Klink (56) was arrested with the help of Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department as Klink was no longer residing in APD’s jurisdiction. He was found to be violating Penal Code 422 — Terrorist Threats.

According to San Luis Obispo County Jail records, Klink was booked into the jail on Jan. 17 on five charges of making terrorist threats. He remained in custody as of Tuesday evening.

Klink’s Facebook page says he is a Physical Education teacher at AUSD.

APD has sought a bail enhancement and Klink remains in custody. Authorities say this investigation is ongoing, and they will make no further comment at this time.

If you have any information related to this investigation, please contact the Police Department at (805) 461-5051.

Heritage Ranch Man Found Guilty of Sexual Abuse

Grunow will be sentenced on March 20 and faces a maximum of 250 years to life in prison

San Luis Obispo County

— District Attorney Dan Dow announced on Thursday, Jan. 26, that a San Luis Obispo County jury has convicted Craig Anthony Grunow (04/21/1965) of 11 counts of sexual abuse of three child victims occurring over a three-year period.

The jury found Grunow guilty on all charged counts, which included one count of sexual intercourse with a child under the age of 10 and 10 counts of committing a lewd act on a child under the age of 14. The jury also found true a special allegation that Grunow committed lewd acts on multiple victims under the age of 14. This special allegation imposes a sentence of 25 years to life in prison for each eligible offense pursuant to California Penal Code section 667.61(j)(2).

Grunow’s predatory crimes occurred in the Heritage Ranch area of rural San Luis Obispo County between August 2018 and August

2021. Two of the young survivors were well-known to the defendant and the third young survivor had been invited into the defendant’s home as a guest.

“We admire the profound strength of the three young survivors in disclosing these terrible crimes and in describing to the jury what they endured at the hands of this sexual predator,” said District Attorney Dan Dow. “We thank the jury for carefully considering all the evidence in this very troubling and emotional case. Without their courage, there would be no justice.” Grunow faces a maximum of 250 years to life in prison at his sentenc- ing hearing scheduled for March 30 at 8:30 a.m. in Department 1 of the San Luis Obispo Superior Court, the Honorable Timothy Covello presiding.

Woman Who Killed Cal Poly Student in Previous DUI Accident Heading Back to Prison After Latest Conviction

Gianna Brencola sentenced to prison for felony DUI conviction

San Luis Obispo County

— Gianna Catherine Brencola of Los Osos was sentenced to six years in state prison for her conviction of felony driving while under the influence of alcohol. The sentence is the result of her guilty plea to the charge and admission to having been prior convicted of vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated in 2018.

The incident occurred on Halloween evening, Oct. 31, 2021, in Morro Bay. During the incident, Brencola, 23, struck four parked cars in the 700 block of the Embarcadero while driving with a blood alcohol level exceeding .30 percent, more than three times the legal limit for driving, which is .08 percent.

According to a press release from the District Attorney’s Office, Brencola attempted to drive away from the collision scene but was stopped by two quick-thinking bystanders. One of the people physically removed Brencola from her vehicle while the other put her car in park and removed the keys from the ignition. During the intervention, Brencola offered one of them money to let her go from the scene before police responded.

Brencola was sentenced by the Honorable Michael L. Duffy to the maximum sentence of six years in prison based on her plea. The driving while under the influence charge carries a maximum sentence of three years, which is doubled due to her prior conviction for vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, a “strike” under California’s Three Strikes sentencing law.

“Driving drunk again, after already serving a prison term for killing someone while driving under the influence of alcohol or other drugs, is without excuse,” said SLO County District Attorney Dan Dow. “Our criminal and victim justice system cannot force rehabilitation because each person must make their own decision to take advantage of the resources that have been provided. We plead with Ms. Brencola to stop her dangerous behavior and to take responsibility for her future by making the necessary choices to change.”

In her prior 2018 conviction for vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, Brencola struck and killed 21-year-old Cal Poly student Kennedy Love — who was riding his bicycle on Foothill Boulevard in San Luis Obispo — and then fled the scene. Brencola was convicted of vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and hit-and-run, resulting in

Four Arrested in Nipomo for Outstanding Warrants

San Luis Obispo County Sheriff Deputies arrested four individuals on Tuesday for outstanding warrants and even more recent crimes.

On Tuesday, deputies responded to the 500 block of Sandydale Drive in Nipomo for a report of a suspicious vehicle. The vehicle had left the area by the time Deputies arrived. The vehicle was later located being driven southbound on Highway 101 and a traffic stop was conducted near the Tefft Street offramp in Nipomo.

All three occupants of the vehicle, Pedro Enriquez Bautista (32) of Santa Maria, Alexis Antonio Gomez (25) of Arroyo Grande, and Maritza Serena Hernandez (28) of Santa Maria had outstanding arrest warrants.

In the vehicle, Deputies located stolen mail and packages, along with three catalytic converters, power tools and burglary tools. The three suspects were arrested for grand theft, conspiracy to commit a crime and possession of stolen property.

Further investigation led to a motel in Arroyo Grande where Deputies located additional stolen mail and packages as well as burglary tools.

The occupant of that room, Duane Patrick James, Jr. (29) of Santa Barbara, also had an outstanding felony arrest warrant. He was also arrested for mail theft. All four suspects were booked into County Jail for their warrants and for the most recent crimes.