Will charges be filed against 2 SLO County business owners accused of sexual assaults?
Editor’s Note: This story mentions sexual assault.
The San Luis Obispo County District Attorney’s Office will decide next week whether to file charges against two SLO County business owners accused of sexual assault by six women, the office confirmed to the Tribune on Thursday, after the Sheriff’s Office submitted its report and recommended prosecution.
In total, more than 30 women have taken to social media to accuse Julian Contreras, former owner of Kin Coffee in downtown San Luis Obispo, and Nathaniel “Nate” Abate, owner of Cardinal Barbershop in Atascadero, of sexually assaulting them over the span of several years.
The earliest survivor the Tribune spoke with said their assault occurred in 2008.
Chief Deputy District Attorney Lisa Muscari said the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office submitted the case to review in early December and is suggesting charges for both men. She said it’s now up to the District Attorney’s Office to review the evidence and decide if there are legal grounds to file charges.
“We have to decide whether we can prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt,” Muscari said.
San Luis Obispo County Assistant District Attorney Eric Dobroth said the decision will likely come late next week before Christmas.
San Luis Obispo Police Department Capt. Brian Amoroso told The Tribune in an August email that the agency’s investigation is inactive because the majority of reported incidents occurred outside of its jurisdiction. Those that did occur within SLOPD’s jurisdiction did not have enough evidence to pursue, he said.
It is unclear how many women filed formal reports with law enforcement at this time.
Former San Luis Obispo resident Ash Riddell sparked a local #MeToo movement in April when she came forward with accusations that she was assaulted by Abate and Contreras.
Since then, more than 30 women have come forward with similar stories of sexual assault or harassment by the two men.
When Riddell learned that the Sheriff’s Office recommended charges against Abate and Contreras, she burst into tears.
“I just never thought that was possible,” Riddell told The Tribune, adding that she has had several people accuse her of making her assault up and question whether the men assaulted the number of women who came forward.
“It would be great to have people see once more that these (allegations) are valid — what (Contreras and Abate) have done to people, what the women have gone through, what women are screaming at the sky about is all valid and it did actually happen,” she said.
It’s not guaranteed that charges will be filed against the men, but Riddell said she hopes that they are prosecuted and never have a chance to prey on women again.
New coffee shop sparks social media debate over connection to Julian Contreras
The allegations are at the center of a social media controversy questioning Contreras’ connection with Glo Coffee Co., the coffee shop that replaced Kin and is owned by Contreras’ mother, Maria Meyers.
According to business license records obtained by The Tribune via a public records request, ownership of Kin Coffee Bar’s downtown location was transferred to Meyers on April 13 — about a week after the allegations against Contreras and Abate arose.
“The previous owners of our shop location are not involved with Glo Coffee in any way. Toni is the sole owner who’s only goal is to run her own cafe and give a home to the incredible staff at Glo Coffee Co.,” the company said on Instagram in response to social media posts questioning its ownership.
Toni is a nickname for Meyers, according to reporting from New Times.
Glo Coffee Co. management has agreed to meet with The Tribune next week about its business and the controversy taking place on social media regarding whether Contreras is still benefiting from the business.
How to get help
If you or someone you know are a survivor of sexual assault, you can call the National Sexual Assault Telephone Hotline at 800-656-4673.
The hotline offers a range of free services including confidential support from a trained staff member, help finding a local health facility, legal and medical advice and referrals for long-term support.
Survivor support and resources are also available by visiting Lumina Alliance online at luminaalliance.org or calling its Crisis and Information Line at 805-545-8888.
Anyone who wishes to speak to The Tribune about their experiences can email Chloe Jones at cjones@thetribunenews.com.
This story was originally published December 15, 2022 at 12:54 PM.
CORRECTION: This story has been updated to clarify that the DA’s Office is considering charges based on the accounts shared by six women.
