By STAFF REPORT · Tue May 05 2026

PASO ROBLES — Robert Conrad Vasquez, 38, has been sentenced to four years and four months in state prison following his conviction on multiple theft-related charges, according to Dan Dow.

Vasquez, a former chief financial officer at Scott O’Brien Fire and Safety Company in Atascadero, pleaded no contest Feb. 2 to five felony counts of grand theft and one misdemeanor count of possessing an assault weapon. He also admitted the crimes involved related felony conduct and losses exceeding $100,000.

Prosecutors said Vasquez embezzled company funds between February 2019 and September 2023, using the money to pay rent and cover personal credit card expenses. The victim estimated total losses between $400,000 and $600,000.

During sentencing, Deputy District Attorney Ben Blumenthal urged the court to impose the maximum six-year sentence allowed under the plea agreement. However, Michael S. Frye sentenced Vasquez to a lesser term after considering arguments from both sides and a victim impact statement.

“Today’s sentence in the Robert Conrad Vasquez case sends a clear message: when a trusted employee steals from a local small business, it is not just a crime on the books, it is a profound betrayal that threatens the jobs and stability that business provides to our community," SLO County District Attorney Dan Dow said of the case. "Embezzlement of hundreds of thousands of dollars from Scott O’Brien Fire and Safety didn’t just hurt one owner—it undermined a small business that protects lives and employs local families, and that kind of conduct drags down our local economy. In our criminal and victim justice system, we will continue to stand with small business owners, hold white-collar offenders accountable, and fight to ensure that those who abuse positions of trust face serious consequences.”

Vasquez was remanded into custody and will be transferred to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to begin serving his sentence. A restitution hearing is scheduled for June 24.

The case was investigated by the Atascadero Police Department and prosecuted by the District Attorney’s Office, with support from victim advocates at the Christopher G. Money Victim Witness Assistance Center.