Often-Prosecuted Slum Owner Given 2 More Years in Jail

Slumlord Robert W. Morrison, already facing considerable jail time, was sentenced to two years more in custody Wednesday for Health and Safety Code violations at an apartment building he owns in South-Central Los Angeles.

Los Angeles Municipal Judge Lois Smaltz ordered Morrison, 59, to begin serving his sentence immediately. But the Sherman Oaks man, who represented himself during the trial, immediately filed a notice of appeal. Smaltz set bail at $50,000.

Morrison was convicted by a jury in Smaltz’s court last Wednesday on four health code violations.

Earlier Charges

Previously, Morrison had been convicted on five other similar counts by a different jury, which deadlocked on several additional counts. That led to the further charges for which Morrison was convicted and sentenced Wednesday.

Both cases involved a six-unit apartment structure Morrison owns at 8441 and 8443 1/2 Main St.

In all, Morrison owns more than two dozen residential properties in the Los Angeles area, said Deputy City Atty. Vivienne Swanigan, who prosecuted both cases.

Since December, Morrison has been sentenced to jail terms three times--including a one-year term after being convicted of slum conditions at two other residential properties, a single-family dwelling at 11214 S. Towne Ave. in South-Central Los Angeles and a six-unit apartment building at 850 Laguna Ave. in Echo Park.

Appeals Pending

That sentence was imposed by Municipal Judge John Harris, who had also ordered Morrison to begin serving the time immediately. Morrison was taken to County Jail, but he was released after posting $25,000 in bail, pending his appeal of that sentence. Harris also ordered him to pay $2,500 in fines and placed him on three years’ probation.

In addition, Morrison is now appealing two previous jail sentences--a six-month term ordered last December and 290 days imposed in January.

The December case involved health and safety violations at his own home, a single-family dwelling at 15041 Sherview Place in Sherman Oaks. Morrison was found guilty of failing to repair unsafe conditions there and of ignoring a city Building and Safety Department order to vacate it, Swanigan said.

In January, Morrison was ordered to jail for ignoring court orders to repair slum conditions at a duplex at 3760 Borel St. and a mixed commercial and residential complex at 4422 and 4424 1/2 Avalon Blvd.