Robert Clouston sentenced to one year in jail
Update: Robert Clouston, the owner of Robert’s and Estrella restaurants in Paso Robles, was sentenced to serve one year in county jail, according to news reports. The San Luis Obispo County Superior Court ordered him to jail and five years probation after pleading no contest to two felony charges of theft from an elder victim. The sentence was the maximum of the plea agreement reached last month.
Robert Clouston pleads no contest to felony theft
Update June 19, 2014: Robert Clouston, the owner of Robert’s and Estrella restaurants in Paso Robles, pleaded no contest to two felony charges, the San Luis Obispo County District Attorney’s office reported today.
A spokeswoman at the DA’s office told the Paso Robles Daily News that Clouston pleaded no contest on Wednesday to two felony counts of theft from an elder or dependent adult with a special allegation of white collar crime. The victim was a 99-year-old woman from Templeton.
His attorney Jordan Cunningham said Clouston pleaded no contest without admitting guilt under People v. West.
Sentencing is scheduled on July 29 in front of Superior Court Judge Michael Duffy in San Luis Obispo. The plea agreement calls for up to one year in county jail and five years probation, the spokeswoman said. Restitution is to be determined, she said.
Original report Feb. 7, 2014:
Paso Robles restaurant owner Robert Clouston accused of fraud
Robert Clouston, co-owner of two downtown Paso Robles restaurants – Robert’s and Estrella, pleaded not guilty to felony fraud charges on Thursday in San Luis Obispo Superior Court.
Clouston, according to court documents, is accused of committing theft, embezzlement, forgery and identity theft of a 99-year-old woman. The criminal complaint states that Clouston removed a 17-acre parcel from a joint trust owned by he and the woman in June 2008 and placed it in an LLC, without consulting her, in order to gain sole ownership.
The property in question is located off North Main Street in Templeton, where a commercial and residential development was being planned, according to a local attorney familiar with the case who asked not to be identified. Clouston recently settled a civil suit with the elderly woman, the attorney said.
After a reappraisal on the property took place, the woman learned of the property transfer from a San Luis Obispo County Tax Assessor’s Office worker in November, 2011. The complaint states Clouston allegedly took out two loans against the property after the transfer; he borrowed $425,000 to pay off bills and development fees and over $500,000 for various business ventures.
In court on Thursday, Clouston made claims that the trust agreement granted him the authority to make the transactions. The next hearing in the case is scheduled for March 18.
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They need to look into his other LLC's for fraud I bet this isn't his first dog and pony show. 301 Main LLC, and 541 Spring Street LLC.
I can’t think of any trust agreement that gives someone the right to transfer property out of the trust to your own LLC without the knowledge of the other party, or to forge the name of the other party to a legal document. I guess that would be called the “Right to Screw the Elderly Clause”?
What a slime dog. To bad, was one of our favorite places to eat.
That is sad Mike. I guess you'll just be visiting Denny's Diner more often. <grin>
Let's not be the judge and jury. We don't have all the facts.
unfortunate for all involved.
Just because it is in the Media, does not mean it is true. Regardless it says accused, not convicted.
lol I hate that place. Looks like karma
Not surprised……He was also part of the failed Eagle Castle Winery…..which also kept financials hidden from there investors
Clouston's wife is Brenda Stemper Clouston, and Gary Stemper was the owner/ manager of Eagle Castle.
The no contest plea is a guilty plea. So, in effect, Clouston pled guilty. By pleading no contest instead of a straight guilty plea, Clouston can avoid some ramifications in civil court.
The poor people that money was taken from. I also feel he plead no contest to keep quiet on who else is involved and to hide money. So when he is out he can go on as business as usual. Just like others in our community who took money from their neighbors to open business in the same town they took from.
What ever happened to the little old lady that lived in the house in front of Eagle Castle that they fought over her land to access the Castle?
Melanie, the little old lady was my grandmother, and she actually lived up on the hill, and I lived in the old farmhouse. Stempers purchased the property in one piece, including both houses, and gave my grandmother survivors rights, so she was able to stay on her home until she passed, and then I stayed another several years after that. She was happy with the arrangement, she had money to travel and no cares 🙂
this is a small town… anybody who tries to pull any shenanigans is bound to get caught. everybody knows everybody, which is what I love about Templeton (and the surrounding area). And these families have been here for a very long time, they know the history of their neighbors.
Dont judge someone because they sin differently than you.
Hmmm. Seems like a bad dude. Has he been found guilty? What if he is found to be innocent by a jury of his peers…will all the negative judgements be publicy retracted?
The vetter family needs this ladys lawyer. ..
Lynne Gamble accused, not convicted
I live in Paso all my friends and I we won't support his business. I am sure there are other that feel this way..
Lori I am proud of your Grandma that notice the transfer from the property transfer from a San Luis Obispo County Tax Assessor’s Office .It look like Robert and your grandma are join owner of the land? Am I right?
That I want to know what happen to that old lady
Let me said it loud ..HE A CROOK.He found Guilty LOL
No Sharon, my grandma was a different little old lady, we are thankfully not involved in this fiasco. My grandmother owned the land where Eagle Castle now stands, built by Bob and his father in law. Now bank owned. A shady bunch. We are very thankful.
They need to look into his other LLC's for fraud I bet this isn't his first dog and pony show. 301 Main LLC, and 541 Spring Street LLC.
I can’t think of any trust agreement that gives someone the right to transfer property out of the trust to your own LLC without the knowledge of the other party, or to forge the name of the other party to a legal document. I guess that would be called the “Right to Screw the Elderly Clause”?
What a slime dog. To bad, was one of our favorite places to eat.
That is sad Mike. I guess you'll just be visiting Denny's Diner more often. <grin>
Let's not be the judge and jury. We don't have all the facts.
unfortunate for all involved.
Just because it is in the Media, does not mean it is true. Regardless it says accused, not convicted.
lol I hate that place. Looks like karma
Not surprised……He was also part of the failed Eagle Castle Winery…..which also kept financials hidden from there investors
Clouston's wife is Brenda Stemper Clouston, and Gary Stemper was the owner/ manager of Eagle Castle.
The no contest plea is a guilty plea. So, in effect, Clouston pled guilty. By pleading no contest instead of a straight guilty plea, Clouston can avoid some ramifications in civil court.
The poor people that money was taken from. I also feel he plead no contest to keep quiet on who else is involved and to hide money. So when he is out he can go on as business as usual. Just like others in our community who took money from their neighbors to open business in the same town they took from.
What ever happened to the little old lady that lived in the house in front of Eagle Castle that they fought over her land to access the Castle?
Melanie, the little old lady was my grandmother, and she actually lived up on the hill, and I lived in the old farmhouse. Stempers purchased the property in one piece, including both houses, and gave my grandmother survivors rights, so she was able to stay on her home until she passed, and then I stayed another several years after that. She was happy with the arrangement, she had money to travel and no cares 🙂
this is a small town… anybody who tries to pull any shenanigans is bound to get caught. everybody knows everybody, which is what I love about Templeton (and the surrounding area). And these families have been here for a very long time, they know the history of their neighbors.
Dont judge someone because they sin differently than you.
Hmmm. Seems like a bad dude. Has he been found guilty? What if he is found to be innocent by a jury of his peers…will all the negative judgements be publicy retracted?
The vetter family needs this ladys lawyer. ..
Lynne Gamble accused, not convicted
I live in Paso all my friends and I we won't support his business. I am sure there are other that feel this way..
Lori I am proud of your Grandma that notice the transfer from the property transfer from a San Luis Obispo County Tax Assessor’s Office .It look like Robert and your grandma are join owner of the land? Am I right?
That I want to know what happen to that old lady
Let me said it loud ..HE A CROOK.He found Guilty LOL
No Sharon, my grandma was a different little old lady, we are thankfully not involved in this fiasco. My grandmother owned the land where Eagle Castle now stands, built by Bob and his father in law. Now bank owned. A shady bunch. We are very thankful.