Repeat Offender Convicted by Jury of Second Robbery After Prison and Probation Failed to Stop His Attacks on Store Workers

Author: District Attorney
Date: 11/6/2026 11:27 AM

District Attorney Dan Dow announces that a jury convicted Scott Robert Davis of second degree robbery for using force against a Target employee who tried to stop him from leaving with stolen merchandise. It is Davis's third case since 2022 in which he threatened or used force against a store worker, and he committed this robbery while on felony probation for his first robbery.

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A San Luis Obispo County jury has found Scott Robert Davis (DOB 12/08/1984) guilty of second-degree robbery, a felony violation of Penal Code section 211. Robbery is a serious and violent felony under California law. The jury returned its verdict on Thursday, November 5, 2026, after deliberating for less than two hours.

On Friday, November 6, 2026, Davis admitted that his 2025 robbery conviction is a prior "strike" under California's Three Strikes Law and a prior serious felony conviction, making this a second strike case. He had already been found in violation of his felony probation at the conclusion of the preliminary hearing and prior to trial. Sentencing on both felony cases is set for January 14, 2027, in Department 8 of the San Luis Obispo County Superior Court, the Honorable Jesse J. Marino presiding. Davis faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in state prison on the new robbery and 16 years on both felony cases combined. He remains in custody without bail.

"Every worker who stepped in to protect their store from this defendant was doing their job, and every one of them was put in danger for it. A wine shop owner nearly had a bottle swung into his head. A convenience store clerk watched him come back twice armed with knives. And a Target employee was grabbed and forced aside," said District Attorney Dan Dow. "This defendant was given a chance to change when he was released from prison on parole, and another chance when he was placed on probation instead of being sent back to prison for robbery. Each time, he went right back to stealing from local businesses and endangering the people who work there. I am grateful to the victims for their courage in coming forward and testifying, and to the jurors for their careful service. Our criminal and victim justice system has a duty to protect the people who keep our community's businesses open, and when someone shows us again and again that he will not stop, we must hold him fully accountable."

The Target Robbery
Following a four-day trial, the jury found Davis guilty of one count of second degree robbery. The victim, a Target Asset Protection Specialist, and San Luis Obispo Police Officer Paul Sisemore testified for the People.

The evidence showed that on August 8, 2025, Davis entered the Target store on Los Osos Valley Road in San Luis Obispo and spent about 45 minutes selecting merchandise, including a backpack, a luggage bag, clothing, and shaving supplies. He packed the clothing and shaving supplies into the bags and walked out through the store's entrance door without paying. The Asset Protection Specialist watched this happen on the store's security cameras.

The Asset Protection Specialist met Davis in the front vestibule, past all points of sale, told him he had unpaid merchandise, and tried to block his path and direct him to the asset protection office. Davis grabbed the employee's arm, forced it down and behind himself, pushed past him, and ran out the front door. He then fled on a bicycle. Under California law, when a person uses force or fear to carry away or keep stolen property, the crime is robbery.

The next morning, Officer Sisemore contacted Davis for an unrelated reason and saw him with bags and shaving items, but did not yet know they were stolen. That afternoon, after Target provided its security video and a list of the stolen items, Officer Sisemore recognized Davis from the video and realized what he had seen that morning. When Officer Sisemore contacted Davis again on August 10, 2025, Davis was wearing one of the stolen shirts. The officer recovered the shirt and both bags. The rest of the stolen clothing and the shaving supplies were never recovered.

Why It Matters: A Pattern That Kept Escalating
The jury's verdict is the latest chapter in a pattern of crimes against local businesses and the people who work in them. Each time, Davis began by stealing, and when an employee confronted him, he answered with threats or force. Court records and sworn testimony in his earlier cases show the following:

April 2022: San Luis Obispo wine shop (Case 22F-02119). On April 19, 2022, Davis hid a $110 bottle of wine in his pants at a wine and beer shop on South Higuera Street in San Luis Obispo. When the owner asked him to give it back, Davis raised the bottle over his head like a club and, according to the owner's sworn testimony, said, "I'm walking right out of here. I'm going to smash you over the head with this thing like a baseball bat." Davis swung the bottle at the owner, who caught it about a foot from his head. Davis then struggled with the owner, kicked, and reached for other bottles as the owner moved him out of the store. Once outside, he ran at the owner again before leaving. The owner testified that the attack "scared the hell out of me." Davis pleaded no contest to felony assault by means of force likely to produce great bodily injury, and the attempted robbery and other charges were dismissed as part of the plea. On April 25, 2023, he was sentenced to two years in state prison. Because of the time he had already spent in custody, he was released on parole.

December 2024: Grover Beach 7-Eleven (Case 24F-09332). On December 29, 2024, Davis put a package of batteries in his pocket at the 7-Eleven on West Grand Avenue in Grover Beach. When a clerk confronted him and recovered the batteries, Davis pushed the clerk and told him, "Stay away from me." Davis left and came back with a small knife, pointed the blade at the clerk from about two feet away, and made a motion as if to throw it. He left again and came back a third time with a larger knife, crouched at the entrance to the area behind the counter, and struck the floor with it while staring at the clerk. Davis then took a beer and walked out without paying. The clerk and his coworker were too frightened to stop him. Police caught Davis nearby. Davis pleaded no contest to second degree robbery. On April 24, 2025, rather than being sent back to prison, he was given a second chance and placed on felony probation. Within days his probation was revoked. He admitted the violation, and on May 14, 2025, the court reinstated his probation and gave him a third chance.

August 2025: San Luis Obispo Target (Case 25F-09427). Less than three months after his probation was reinstated, Davis committed the Target robbery that the jury has now found him guilty of.

October 2025: San Luis Obispo Smart and Final (Case 25M-09448). On October 28, 2025, while still on felony probation, Davis stole from the Smart and Final in San Luis Obispo. Today, November 6, 2026, he pleaded no contest to misdemeanor petty theft (Penal Code section 484) and received credit for time served.

This case was investigated by the San Luis Obispo Police Department, with Officer Paul Sisemore. The case was prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Julie Antos of the General Felony Prosecution Unit. Victim advocacy services were provided by Gabriela Puga, and witness coordination services were provided by Eloiza Basinger of the District Attorney's Christopher G. Money Victim Witness Assistance Center.

Victims of crime in San Luis Obispo County, including workers harmed while on the job, can contact the District Attorney's Christopher G. Money Victim Witness Assistance Center at 805-781-5821 for free, confidential support, information about their rights under Marsy's Law, and help with restitution.

Here is a copy of the charging document. Here is a copy of the booking photo (taken 09-28-2025 at the San Luis Obispo County Jail). 

Members of the media may contact Assistant District Attorney Eric J. Dobroth at 805-781-5819 for additional information.

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