Former SLO County employee arrested and charged with stealing public money

SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY — Former county employee Norman Hibble (54) has been arrested and charged with stealing public money while employed with County of San Luis Obispo. The suspected theft was discovered by staff of the Office of the Auditor-Controller, who identified purchasing irregularities and worked closely with the District Attorney’s Public Integrity Unit to investigate the alleged crimes.

The 12-count felony complaint alleges that between April 2017 and October 2023, while employed with the County of San Luis Obispo, Hibble misused a county credit card to purchase personal items estimated at well over $100,000. Hibble has been booked in the San Luis Obispo County jail with bail set at $350,000.

It is anticipated that Hibble will be arraigned on Friday, Feb. 23, 2024, in Department 3 of the San Luis Obispo County Superior Court. If convicted, Hibble faces a significant prison sentence.

Please note, a defendant in a criminal proceeding is presumed not guilty until the allegations have been proven beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

The on-going investigation is a collaborative effort between the District Attorney’s Bureau of Investigation and the Office of the Auditor-Controller. The case is being prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Ben Blumenthal of the Major Fraud/Public Integrity Unit.