Slumlord Fails to Show Up to Start Jail Term

A bench warrant was issued Friday for convicted slumlord Rosemary Martin after she failed to appear in court to begin serving a 10-month jail sentence.

“Their (Martin and her attorneys’) attitude has been so lackadaisical, this doesn’t surprise me one bit,” said Deputy City Atty. Stephanie Sautner, head of the office’s housing enforcement unit.

Martin, 39, of Hollywood was sentenced to eight months in jail and three years’ probation in July, 1984, after being found guilty of 28 code violations at four apartment buildings she owns at 1748-1750 West 24th St., 8663-8671 S. Main St., 120-120 1/2 East 68th St. and 5315 Blackwelder St.

The sentence was stayed pending an appeal, which was denied last month.

Probation Terms

Last November, Los Angeles Municipal Judge Mel Red Recana sentenced Martin to an additional two months in jail for violating terms of her probation by not bringing her buildings into compliance with codes.

Martin, who is free on $35,000 bail, was also scheduled to appear before Recana Friday for a sentencing hearing on a new probation violation stemming from the judge’s order that she sell the buildings.

“It doesn’t appear to me that she really is sincere about selling her properties,” said Deputy City Atty. Abraham Aponte Khan, the prosecutor in that case.

Maintaining that his client had made vigorous efforts to get rid of the buildings, attorney Ben Perkins Jr. said she had probably “miscalendared this appearance,” but he was hopeful that she would be in court by early next week.

Perkins said his client was unlikely to flee the state.

Worth Estimated

“This lady owns approximately 25 properties throughout the County of Los Angeles,” he said. “She has a net worth close to $800,000.”

This was not the first time Martin failed to appear in court on the scheduled date.

In December, 1983, Recana issued a bench warrant for her arrest when she missed a sentencing hearing. She was taken into custody the following May and served 60 days in jail.