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A judge this week ruled that a criminal trial will proceed against a former Cal Poly administrator and ex‑executive director of Bike SLO County, who faces accusations of exposing himself to his 6‑year‑old step‑granddaughter. The decision has renewed scrutiny on a familiar local figure and raises immediate questions about child safety and institutional oversight.
Content warning: the following story contains allegations of sexual misconduct involving a minor.
Allegations and formal charges
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Prosecutors in San Luis Obispo County filed a charge on Aug. 27 accusing Richard Ellison of committing a lewd and lascivious act on a child under 14. Court records and university confirmation show Ellison once held the title of Associate Vice President for University Advancement at Cal Poly and later led the regional bicycling nonprofit.
What emerged in court testimony
Investigators from the district attorney’s office and a sheriff’s deputy described testimony that places the alleged incident at a family gathering held at the child’s grandparents’ home. According to testimony, the family was there for a baby shower and later remained for dinner.
That evening, the child — identified only as Jane Doe in court documents — asked to enter the backyard hot tub and went with her grandfather because her mother did not have a swimsuit. The mother later told investigators that Ellison had consumed alcohol earlier and fell asleep for a time before the hot tub visit.
Later that night the child told her mother that Ellison had told her they had a secret. After being questioned, she said Ellison had exposed his genitalia in the hot tub but that he had not touched her. The child’s father subsequently reported the incident to law enforcement after the family returned home.
Forensic interview and additional details
In a recorded forensic interview, the child said she had previously seen Ellison’s genitals when hiding under a bed while he changed and that he told her he would show her later in the hot tub. The child described touching Ellison’s penis with two fingers in the hot tub and characterized its appearance to the interviewer.
Prosecutors presented a letter Ellison had written to the child’s mother, in which he apologized and promised not to drink around the children again. The letter did not explicitly describe the conduct alleged; the district attorney called it an acknowledgment that something inappropriate had occurred.
Defense line of questioning
Defense counsel challenged aspects of the investigation, asking whether the father’s questioning could have shaped the child’s account. Investigators testified that the father had asked the child whether she had touched Ellison and what it felt like; the child gave descriptive answers. Prosecutors also said the child told her father she had been pulling at Ellison’s shorts and had asked to see his private parts, and that Ellison did not discourage her requests.
- Charge: Committing a lewd and lascivious act on a child under 14 (filed Aug. 27)
- Accused: Richard Ellison — former Cal Poly administrator and former Bike SLO County executive director
- Evidence cited: child forensic interview, family members’ statements, a written apology from Ellison
- Defense focus: possible influence of parental questioning on the child’s memory
- Next court date: hearing scheduled for May 12
The case underscores broader public concerns about how organizations vet and supervise individuals in positions of local prominence. While the allegations are serious, legal experts note that the criminal process will require the court to weigh the credibility of testimony, forensic interviewing practices, and other evidence before any verdict is reached.
Ellison is entitled to the presumption of innocence until proven guilty in court. Reporting here relies on public court testimony and local news coverage; prosecutors and defense attorneys have opportunities to present competing accounts at trial.
The next scheduled hearing is set for May 12, when the court will address pretrial matters as the case moves toward trial.
