News
Released: May 1, 2017 - Monday, 03:59 PM
On 04-29-17 between the hours of 5:00 PM and 9:00PM, the ACT team arrested two (2) store clerks responsible for selling alcoholic beverages to the minor decoy. One arrest occurred in Avila Beach, the other occurred in Los Osos. During the operation, all retailers compliance checked during the sting operation responsibly declined the sales except for the two clerks listed.
Both arrestees (Valdez & Okamoto-Garson) were released on their signed promise to appear (citations) and will be charged through the District Attorney’s Office for illegally furnishing/selling alcohol to a minor, a violation of Business & Professions Code § 25658(a), a misdemeanor. The Sheriff’s Office will be forwarding the two retailer violation cases to the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) for consideration of administrative action against the ABC licensees. The Sheriff’s Office will be continuing ABC grant funded operations through June 30, 2017 unless otherwise extended with additional grant funding. Ongoing programs include minor decoy deployment, shoulder tap operations, on-sale and off-sale licensee monitoring, and false identification detection operations. Media inquiries related to the Sheriff’s Office’s ACT enforcement programs can be directed to (805) 781-4529.
Alcohol Enforcement - Underage Decoy Operation
Contact: A. Perry, SergeantPhone: (805) 781-4529Date and time of incident: 04-29-17 5:00PM - 9:00 PMPlace of Occurrence: 1. Zippy's Market, 3915 Avila Beach Drive, Avila Beach 2. Grocery Outlet, 1130 Los Osos Valley Road, Los OsosVictim Information: Not ApplicableSuspect Information: 1. Jose Marino Valdez Jr., 33 years old, Oceano (Zippy's Market) 2. Kaito Hiro Okamoto-Garson, 20 years old, Los Osos (Grocery Outlet)On 04-29-17, the San Luis Obispo Sheriff’s Office’s Alcohol Compliance Team (ACT) operated a California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) grant funded minor decoy operation in the Avila Beach and Los Osos areas. The “Minor Decoy Program” is an enforcement operation that utilizes minor decoys to enter retail stores to purchase alcoholic beverages. If the sale and furnishing of alcohol to the minor decoy takes place, a team of deputy sheriffs specifically trained in ABC enforcement programs immediately take enforcement action against store personnel responsible for the violation.On 04-29-17 between the hours of 5:00 PM and 9:00PM, the ACT team arrested two (2) store clerks responsible for selling alcoholic beverages to the minor decoy. One arrest occurred in Avila Beach, the other occurred in Los Osos. During the operation, all retailers compliance checked during the sting operation responsibly declined the sales except for the two clerks listed.
Both arrestees (Valdez & Okamoto-Garson) were released on their signed promise to appear (citations) and will be charged through the District Attorney’s Office for illegally furnishing/selling alcohol to a minor, a violation of Business & Professions Code § 25658(a), a misdemeanor. The Sheriff’s Office will be forwarding the two retailer violation cases to the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) for consideration of administrative action against the ABC licensees. The Sheriff’s Office will be continuing ABC grant funded operations through June 30, 2017 unless otherwise extended with additional grant funding. Ongoing programs include minor decoy deployment, shoulder tap operations, on-sale and off-sale licensee monitoring, and false identification detection operations. Media inquiries related to the Sheriff’s Office’s ACT enforcement programs can be directed to (805) 781-4529.
