District Attorney

DAN DOW

DISTRICT ATTORNEY

Dan Dow was elected District Attorney of the County of San Luis Obispo on June 3, 2014 and assumed office on November 7, 2014.  He was reelected for a second term on June 5, 2018. Dan is an Army veteran and a career prosecutor dedicated to protecting victims, ensuring justice and reducing crime in our community.

While serving in the US Army, Dan attended the Defense Language Institute in Monterey, California where he became fluent in the Korean language and earned the Martin J. Kellogg Award for his achievement as the top graduate in his class.

After completing his service in the active Army, Dan attended California State University, Hayward where he earned a bachelor’s degree in political science.  Dan later attended Santa Clara University School of Law where he earned his Juris Doctorate.
Dan continues his military service as a reserve officer in the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the California Army National Guard. He was awarded the Bronze Star Medal during his deployment to Iraq under Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation New Dawn.  Dan was also deployed to Kosovo under Operation Enduring Freedom.

As a career prosecutor, Dan has focused on prosecuting domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse crimes where he seeks to bring justice for victims of particularly devastating crimes that are committed against those least capable of protecting themselves. He considers it a high calling and a privilege to serve victims and to hold offenders accountable for their actions.
Dan played a vital role as a part of the collaborative team that brought Veterans Treatment Court to the County of San Luis Obispo. Launched in June of 2013, the Veterans Treatment Court seeks to address the growing number of veterans entering the criminal justice system as a result of traumatic experiences they endured while in the military.  The unique Veteran’s Treatment Court seeks to rehabilitate veteran offenders, reduce recidivism and reduce costs to the taxpayers.
Dan and his wife Wendy, a local small business owner and reading instructor, have been married for over 25 years and reside in Templeton. They have two children, Chloe and Jedidiah.

ERIC J. DOBROTH

ASSISTANT DISTRICT ATTORNEY

Eric Dobroth is a career prosecutor, who began his employment with the San Luis Obispo County District Attorney’s Office in June of 2005.  He was appointed Assistant District Attorney on January 1, 2018.

As the Assistant District Attorney, he serves as the office’s public information officer and grand jury liaison.  He is responsible for Public Records Act compliance, extradition reviews, and the review for filing of all homicide, public integrity, Brown Act and Fair Political Practices Act cases.  He chairs the County Human Trafficking Task Force, as well as the Intimate Partner Violence Coalition.  His supervisory duties include the Christopher G. Money Victim Witness Assistance Center, the juvenile unit, the sexual assault unit, the special prosecutions unit, and the Mentally Disordered Offender unit. 

As a Deputy District Attorney, Eric successfully prosecuted a variety of cases, including codefendants Jesse Baker-Riley and Ryan James Johnson for a home invasion robbery that resulted in the shooting death of a 17-year-old juvenile; and the prosecution of Clifford Scott, Jr. for the first degree attempted murder of California Highway Patrol Officer Adrian Ayala.   Most recently, Eric has led our special prosecutions unit, focusing on consumer and environmental protection, and major fraud prosecutions. 

Prior to joining the San Luis Obispo County District Attorney’s Office, Eric served as a Deputy District Attorney in Ventura County for five years prosecuting a variety of misdemeanor and felony case types.

Eric received his Bachelor of Science degree from Oregon State University in Geology and Environmental Science in 1995, and his Juris Doctorate degree from Northwestern School of Law (Portland) with emphasis in Environmental and Natural Resources Law in 1999. 

SHERYL WOLCOTT

CHIEF DEPUTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY

Sheryl Wolcott received her undergraduate degree from the University of California, San Diego and her Juris Doctorate from University of California Hastings College of the Law.  She has been a prosecutor since 1996, when she began her career at the San Mateo County District Attorney's Office.  After trying cases for several years, Sheryl was a supervising attorney at the San Mateo District Attorney's Office for three years before joining the County of San Luis Obispo District Attorney's Office in 2007.  

Throughout her career, she has held a variety of misdemeanor and felony assignments, including several years prosecuting domestic violence cases.  She has successfully tried a range of serious crimes, including robbery, arson, criminal threats, stalking, and attempted murder.  Sheryl has been a Chief Deputy District Attorney since 2013.  She supervises the domestic violence unit and three general trial teams, manages support staff, information technology and office automation, and oversees Brady compliance.

JERRET GRAN

CHIEF DEPUTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY

Jerret Gran received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Westmont College in 1989 and his Juris Doctorate from University of the Pacific McGeorge School of Law in 1993.

Mr. Gran joined the Madera County District Attorney's Office where he prosecuted misdemeanor and felony cases.  Since 1998, he has been with the County of San Luis Obispo District Attorney's Office.  In 2008, he was appointed Chief Deputy District Attorney.  He supervises the filing unit, Early Disposition Program (EDP)  unit, three general trial teams, and he oversees gang prosecutions and crimes against peace officers.

TERRY O'FARRELL

CHIEF INVESTIGATOR

Chief Investigator Terry O’Farrell began his law enforcement career in 1997 as a police officer with the City of Atascadero.  During his tenure at the Atascadero Police Department he was assigned to patrol, field training officer, narcotics detective, and sexual assault detective.  Terry eventually promoted to the position of Sergeant and maintained that role for two years. 

In 2006, Terry joined the Buerau of Investigation at the San Luis Obispo County District Attorney’s Office.  He has been assigned as an investigator to the county’s narcotics task force and gang task force.  Terry promoted to assistant chief investigator and was assigned to supervise a variety of investigations including sexual assault and homicide. 

 Terry earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice Administration from Columbia Southern University.  He stays active in the community through youth sports, coaching baseball, basketball, and football off and on for over 20 years.

ANN BRADLEY

ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES MANAGER

Ann Bradley has worked for the County of San Luis Obispo for over twenty years.  Ann started her County career in 1997 with the Department of Public Works as an Accounting Technician.  From there, she was promoted in 2001 to a Supervising Accounting Technician with the IT Department. 

In 2006 an Accountant position with the Sheriff’s Department allowed Ann to combine her passion for law enforcement with her over twenty years of accounting experience.  In 2016, she was promoted to Administrative Services Manager (ASM) with the District Attorney’s Office, continuing her career with the County and in law enforcement.

Ann gained her knowledge of accounting from hard work, grit and Cuesta College. To aid her in bridging the gap between private sector and public governmental accounting, Ann attended the Intermediate Governmental Accounting course from the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA), making her well qualified for any government agency.

While attending the Sheriff’s Citizen Academy, Ann realized her passion for law enforcement, which she now brings to the District Attorney’s Office. She takes pride in her work that makes a difference every single day and that directly reflects her dedication to our community.

Ann is responsible for the fiscal and budgetary management of the District Attorney’s Office, which combines the development and preparation of the annual budget with continuously analyzing financial data and safeguarding the financial health of the organization.  Ann also assumes responsibility for personnel and program / operational activities, and manages the business activities of the Department.  Her management ensures a smooth and efficient flow of communication and information within the office. 

SOPHIA MATHEWS

ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES OFFICER

Sophia received a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Otto-Friedrich University of Bamberg, Germany, where she majored in British / American Studies and Political Science.  Her minor was Social Anthropology.  In 2011, Sophia moved to the United States, where she has lived and worked in Arizona, Texas, and California.  She graduated with distinction from Capella University, Minneapolis, with a Master of Arts in Nonprofit / Public Service Management and Leadership in 2016.

Sophia has worked for the County of San Luis Obispo since 2015. She started her career with the County at the Department of Agriculture / Weights and Measures as an Administrative Assistant.  In April of 2017, she transferred to the District Attorney’s Office as Administrative Services Officer and Executive Assistant to District Attorney Dan Dow.

In addition to being the Executive Assistant to District Attorney Dow, Sophia’s responsibilities also include supporting the ASM in budgetary and fiscal matters, project management, office administration, social media and website administration, creating Board agenda items, drafting written materials, and supporting the attorney management team.

CHERYL REMPE

ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES OFFICER

Cheryl Rempe received a Bachelor of Arts Degree from the University of California at Santa Barbara in 1989 and a Paralegal Certificate from Cal Poly in 1998.

Cheryl began her employment with the San Luis Obispo District Attorney’s Office in 1997 as a Legal Clerk and promoted to Paralegal in 1998. During her time as a Paralegal she supported our team of attorneys with discovery and trial preparation. In 2017 she was awarded another promotion and now enjoys the position as the Administrative Services Officer.  
  
Cheryl’s responsibilities include managing recruitments, processing payroll and benefits, generating performance evaluations, supervising support staff, discrimination and harassment coordinator, resource for media inquiries, and records retention management.

DIANA MCPARTLAN

DIRECTOR

CHRISTOPHER G. MONEY

VICTIM WITNESS ASSISTANCE CENTER

Diana Worthington-McPartlan was raised on the Central Coast and graduated from Arroyo Grande High School and Cuesta College where she earned an A.S. Degree in Administration of Justice.  She also attended Sacramento State University and earned coursework towards a degree in Criminal Justice.

Diana’s experience began in 1981 when she was an intern with the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office.  She later volunteered with the Rape Crisis Center in San Luis Obispo County where she assisted victims of sexual assault.  She was employed as a group counselor for emotionally disturbed adolescents at a treatment center and a couple of group homes in Citrus Heights, California. She was an intern with Yuba County Probation Department working with adult/juvenile probationers as well as runaway youth and later worked for the Placer County District Attorney’s Office as a Victim/Witness Advocate.  While her two children were attending Paso Robles High School, Diana worked as a Campus Assistant where she supervised the in-house school suspension program and worked with at-risk students.  She began serving our community as a Victim Witness Advocate in July of 2006.  In 2011, she became an Assistant Director and in 2016 was selected by District Attorney Dow to be the Director of the Christopher G. Money Victim Witness Assistance Center.

Diana is responsible for managing a staff of approximately 20 employees who annually serve more than 6000 victims of crime and their family members.  She oversees a range of special victim service programs including domestic violence, sexual assault, elder abuse, crime victims with disabilities, victim compensation, and victim resources. Several of these programs are funded by state and/or federal grant funds.

In addition, Diana is involved in several committees including:  Intimate Partner Violence Coalition, Human Trafficking Task Force, Crime Stoppers, and the California Men’s Colony Advisory Board.