Gary Lee Roberts II Convicted of Residential Burglary After Homeowner Stopped Escape

SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY, Calif. (KEYT) – Gary Lee Roberts II was found guilty of first-degree residential burglary and attempted burglary after targeting the same Atascadero home in October of last year and being stopped the during the burglary by the homeowner.

On Oct. 6, 2025, the victim in the case first saw Roberts when her home security camera recorded him knocking on her front door and asking for someone named "Jeff" before leaving the area after the victim told him through the security system that no one by that name lived there detailed the San Luis Obispo County District Attorney's Office.

The victim had never met Roberts before that interaction, noted local prosecutors, but it was not the last time she saw him.

The next morning, while the victim was at work, Roberts returned to the property wearing a mask, a hat, and a hooded sweater and the security camera recorded him attempting to open the home's front door, searching a planter box nearby and turning over rocks in a likely attempt to locate a spare key, and then returning about a minute later and continuing his search until the victim informed him through the security system that he was being recorded explained the San Luis Obispo County District Attorney's Office.

Roberts fled the scene upon receiving the information and the victim reported the attempted break-in to the Atascadero Police Department noted prosecutors.

Investigating officers were unable to recover usable fingerprints form the scene as Roberts had covered his hands and the victim took additional security steps at her home including keeping all doors locked and using jammers to secure her windows detailed the San Luis Obispo County District Attorney's Office.

On the morning of Oct. 9, 2025, the victim once again spotted Roberts on her home's security camera system stated the local prosecutor's office.

She called law enforcement and drove home and while she waited for the arrival of responding officers, she watched Roberts leave her home carrying her personal property shared the San Luis Obispo County District Attorney's Office.

According to the San Luis Obispo County District Attorney's Office, the victim confronted Roberts and pushed him into bushes to stop his escape.

A struggle ensued and the victim punched Roberts in the face as police officers arrived at the scene and detained him at the scene detailed the San Luis Obispo County District Attorney's Office.

"This victim showed extraordinary courage," shared District Attorney Dan Dow. "For days she watched a stranger try to get into her home. When she saw him walking out her door with her belongings, she faced him directly and made sure he could not run off before officers arrived. Because of her bravery, he was caught in the act and has now been held accountable by a jury. No one should ever have to protect their own home this way, and we always encourage people to put their safety first and call 911. But we are deeply grateful for her strength, both on that morning and throughout this trial."

Investigators found that the rear sliding-glass door of the home had been shattered and the home ransacked and the victim later found a hammer inside the home that did not belong to her which she believed was used to break in explained the local prosecutor's office.

While in custody, Roberts waived his right to a jury on some of his still-outstanding charges and he will be back in court for a trial on Oct. 19, 2026, with Judge Crystal T. Seiler presiding noted the San Luis Obispo County District Attorney's Office.

The court will decide on aggravating factors connected to Roberts' charges including a 2015 felony conviction for assault with a deadly weapon, a strike offense under state law, shared prosecutors.

"Everyone deserves to feel safe in their own home," San Luis Obispo County District Attorney Dan Dow said. "This verdict shows our criminal and victim justice system working the way it should: a victim who spoke up, officers who responded quickly, a prosecutor who presented the evidence with care, and a jury that carefully weighed the facts. Our team will continue to stand with this victim through sentencing."