Judge: SLO County employee accused of embezzling must wear ankle monitor if released on bail
Bail was lowered once again for the San Luis Obispo County employee accused of stealing at least $250,000 while working in the technology department — but he will have to be electronically monitored if he is released, a San Luis Obispo Superior Court judge ruled Wednesday.
Norman Hibble, 54, was arrested and charged with 12 counts of embezzlement on Feb 20.
Deputy District Attorney Ben Blumenthal said in a court hearing Friday that Hibble used a county-issued credit card to purchase $100,000 worth of items, including a $2,000 crossbow, DJ equipment and camera gear.
Hibble is also alleged to have used the county card to buy an electric scooter that he then sued a driver for damaging, the District Attorney’s Office told The Tribune.
Hibble was fired on Jan. 5.
District Attorney’s Office argues against lowering bail for ex-employee
At a court hearing last week, San Luis Obispo Superior Court Judge Barry LaBarbera reduced Hibble’s bail from $350,000 to $250,000.
On Wednesday, LaBarbera reduced that further to $100,000 — despite opposition from the District Attorney’s Office.
In the court hearing Wednesday, Blumenthal argued Hibble’s bail should remain at $250,000.
He said a probation report that recommended bail should be lowered relied on Hibble living at an address he hadn’t lived at for “quite some time” because it had been damaged in the January 2023 storms.
The report also cited Hibble’s continuous employment as a reason he could be warranted release, but Blumenthal noted that Hibble was not a star employee.
For example on Feb. 2, 2021, when Hibble’s colleagues in the county health agency were responding to the peak of the COVID-19 crisis, Hibble allegedly used the county credit card to order a Blackmagic Design Davinci mini panel — a video editing system that cost more than $3,300, Blumenthal said.
On the invoice he turned into the county, Hibble said he bought a printer from Blackmagic Design, Blumenthal said.
Hibble also indicated in divorce proceedings with his estranged wife that he wanted to move to Australia since at least 2021 when they visited the country for their child’s funeral, Blumenthal said.
Blumenthal argued that if Hibble wished to move to Australia before he was facing criminal charges, his desire to move has likely been heightened since.
While Hibble has surrendered both his U.S. and Australian passports, Blumenthal said he wasn’t sure how easy it would be for Hibble to walk into an Australian embassy and get a new one.
Defense attorney says Hibble entitled to bail he can afford
Defense attorney James Askew — who was appearing on behalf of Hibble’s attorney, William Aron — asked LaBarbera to follow the recommendation from the probation department to release Hibble or reduce bail to an amount he could afford, which would be $50,000 to $100,000.
He said Hibble indicated both the address of his damaged house and the address of the place he was staying in the meantime in the report.
Askew argued that Hibble’s years of employment should pull weight in the decision, because more than a decade of employment means he has roots in the county.
LaBarbera ruled that Hibble’s employment should not be a factor, but he still believed Hibble was entitled to a bail he could afford, and reduced bail to $100,000
If Hibble does make bail, he must report to probation within 24 hours to receive his electronic monitoring anklet.
Hibble must also surrender any other passports he may have and not apply for a new passport, the judge ruled.
Hibble’s arraignment is scheduled for March 14.
