RANCHO MURIETA, CA (MPG) - Former Rancho Murieta Association Director Danny Carrillo has stopped skateboarding through the community with his dog, Leo, running alongside him after receiving a violation notice alleging he was tethered to the dog, an allegation he disputes.

Carrillo said he has skateboarded with Leo – and with another dog before Leo – for more than 10 years without receiving a warning or violation notice, including during the nearly five years he served on the RMA board.

Since receiving the Aug. 28 RMA notice, Carrillo has been carrying 41-pound Leo to the North Gate where they begin their ride outside the RMA-controlled community.

The notice states that Carrillo was observed: “tethered to a dog by a leash while riding a skateboard/longboard.” It cites an RMA rule prohibiting a person from riding a bicycle, skateboard or scooter while tethered to another person, animal or property.

The notice, which was issued to Carrillo and his wife Sherry Luman-Carrillo, did not impose a fine. It warned, however, that another violation of the same kind within 12 months could result in a proposed $100 fine. Carrillo has filed a written appeal, which the Compliance Committee will consider on Oct. 7.

Their appeal said the description of a person tethered to a dog by a leash while riding a skateboard in the notice wasn’t accurate. 

“Danny was riding a motorized skateboard while holding a dog’s leash in hand. At no point was the dog, the leash, or the person attached or tethered to the skateboard – or to one another by any means other than a hand-held leash,” they wrote. “Additionally, Leo was not towing the skateboard.”

The River Valley Times asked RMA what prompted the notice and why the rule was being enforced against Carrillo after years of the same activity. The newspaper also asked whether RMA had previously enforced the rule against Carrillo or other residents riding bicycles, skateboards or scooters while attached to an animal.

General Manager Vicky Lentz declined to address those questions.

“RMA respects the privacy of its members and does not comment on, discuss, or disclose matters involving individual compliance notices, enforcement actions, or resident account information,” Lentz wrote.

She said RMA has a policy of not responding to questions involving specific residents or alleged violations.

Three residents who responded to River Valley Times inquiries questioned why Carrillo was cited after years of skateboarding through the community with his dogs.

Don Ogden, who said he served on the RMA Compliance Committee for several years, recalled the committee discussing the rule several years ago. Carrillo was already riding his skateboard with Leo at the time, Ogden said, while some residents were walking their dogs from golf carts.

“We did not see these as issues needing attention or enforcement,” Ogden said.

He said the committee concentrated instead on making sure electric bicycles did not exceed speed limits and that riders obeyed traffic rules.

Kim Doughty said she has seen Carrillo skateboarding with Leo for years and disputed the notice’s description of the dog as tethered to the skateboard.

She also questioned whether association rules are being applied consistently, saying she sees residents pulling dogs tethered to golf carts and children riding scooters through stop signs.

Myrna Solomon said it was ludicrous that Carrillo was cited. 

“I have watched him go up and down the street with his awesome dog for years and years,” she said. “I’ve never had a problem with that.” 

Carrillo resigned from the RMA board in August 2025 after a public rift with fellow directors. He said he had been improperly excluded from executive-session discussions after being accused of disclosing, or threatening to disclose, confidential information. Carrillo denied the accusations.

Board members said they acted on legal advice but could not publicly reveal the underlying details because they were confidential. 

Carrillo later criticized the board for declining to consider his proposal for a committee devoted to leadership training, communication and transparency.