Santa Maria

SM man convicted of manslaughter

A jury deliberated for about a half hour Monday afternoon before convicting Jose Gonzalez of gross vehicular manslaughter and drunken driving in the death of a Santa Maria man in May.

Gonzalez, 27, of Santa Maria collided head-on on May 9 on Betteravia Road east of Highway 101 with a vehicle driven by Walter Williams, 83.

Williams died at the scene of the crash.

Gonzalez's trial began Thursday afternoon in Santa Barbara County Superior Court in Santa Maria.

A criminalist testified for the prosecution during the trial that Gonzalez had a blood alcohol level of .20.

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The defense did not present any witnesses in the case.

The jury reached guilty verdicts on the three felony counts Gonzalez was charged with, and found true special allegations in the case, according to Senior Deputy District Attorney Kevin Duffy.

Gonzalez is set to return to court Jan. 14 for sentencing, Duffy said.

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Santa Maria

Man in hospital after being struck by truck

A Santa Maria man was listed in critical but stable condition Monday night after being struck by a vehicle while crossing Broadway, Santa Maria police said.

James Ray Daniel Jr, 49, was taken to Marian Medical Center for major injuries to his head, face and right leg and moderate abrasions to his back and shoulders.

According to police, Daniel was walking east while crossing the 1100 block of North Broadway when he was hit by a mid-1990s dark-colored Ford Ranger pick-up going northbound on Broadway. The driver fled the scene.

The 6:26 a.m. incident remained under investigation, and police are asking for anyone with information to call (877) 800-9100.

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Guadalupe

Arrest made for drugs, child endangerment

A Guadalupe man was being held in Santa Barbara County Jail without bail after detectives found about one ounce of methamphetamine and other contraband related to illegal drug sales in his house, according to Sheriff's Department spokesman Drew Sugars.

Jesse DeLeon, 41, was arrested and booked into jail on suspicion of possessing methamphetamine for sale and child endangerment.

During a search of a residence in the 4000 block of Fourth Street on Thursday, detectives found the drugs with a street value of about $2,900, Sugars said.

They also discovered an indoor marijuana grow with approximately 130 plants that appeared to be covered under medicinal marijuana guidelines. However, due to the strong odor of the plants, and the ease with which two toddlers could access them, detectives determined the environment was dangerous for the children, according to Sugars.

A suitable family member was not available to care for the children, he said, so Child Welfare Services took custody of them.

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Nipomo

Fire destroys home, building on Mesa

Investigators are seeking the cause of a fire that destroyed a residential and commercial building at 406 Aloma Way on the Nipomo Mesa early Monday, said a spokeswoman for Cal Fire/San Luis Obispo County Fire Department.

The fire did an estimated $800,000 damage to the 5,000-square-foot building, half of which was a home and half of which was a commercial unit occupied by the Brad Anderson Construction Co.

An unidentified civilian suffered first-degree burns over 8 percent of his body and second-degree burns over 1 percent of his body as he was attempting to move items out of the garage, the spokeswoman said.

He was taken to a hospital for treatment by private vehicle.

A firefighter also sustained a minor injury when he stepped on a nail, but he returned to duty, she said.

The fire was reported at 6:36 a.m., and the structure was engulfed in flames when firefighters arrived at the site off Halcyon Road northeast of Cypress Ridge Golf Course.

The fire was fully extinguished by noon, the spokeswoman said.

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San Luis Obispo County

Grants available through county

San Luis Obispo County is accepting applications for funding of community-based organizations and preventive health programs for the 2009-10 fiscal year.

The grants are intended to be used for local programs and/or projects that support and complement - not duplicate - the efforts of the county's health and human services departments to promote the optimal health, stability, independence and well-being of county residents.

Grant applications are available on the Internet at www.slocounty.ca.gov/admin.htm or by calling Nikki Schmidt at 781-5496.

An informational meeting will be held at 3 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 7 to provide information about the application process and criteria for funding and to answer questions.

The meeting will be held at the County Government Center, Board Chambers, 1055 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo.

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Avila Beach

Complex completed for displaced residents

Construction of a 29-unit permanently affordable apartment complex at the corner of Laurel Lane and Ocean Oaks Drive was recently completed, and Avila Beach residents displaced during Unocal's razing of the town have begun moving in.

The rental complex, known as Lachen Tara, includes eight studio apartments and 18 one-bedroom and three two-bedroom units. Four of the units are reserved for farm workers and eight units are reserved for people with special needs.

Rents range between $400 and $700. The complex is expected to be fully occupied by mid-January.

When Unocal began clean-up efforts in downtown Avila Beach, the town's entire core had to be razed and many longtime residents were forced to relocate.

People's Self Help Housing was able to secure an agreement with Unocal that the clean-up would include an affordable housing development that would allow displaced residents to be given preference for the rental units.

- From staff reports