2 Care Homes Closed After Owner’s Alleged Assault of Inspector

State authorities have temporarily closed two Pacoima adult-care homes after the owner allegedly assaulted an inspector who found inadequate food supplies and other violations at the facilities.

In addition to a lack of food, officials charged that one home had broken furniture, soiled mattresses and a smoke detector and fire extinguishers that did not work.

The two facilities, which housed a total of 12 men with various health and mental problems, were shut down last Friday after owner Lillian Newhouse, 57, allegedly “verbally abused and physically assaulted” Sheila Hartley, an inspector for the state Social Services Department. Officials said Newhouse struck Hartley three times, but they did not give further details.

In an interview Tuesday, Newhouse denied hitting Hartley and said her facilities were properly stocked with food and that residents received good care.

“I don’t hurt or harm anybody, period. . . . They are just lying about all that stuff,” she said.

Officials said no fresh fruit or snacks were available to residents of either home and that Newhouse failed to keep adequate amounts of other foodstuffs on hand.

Newhouse said the homes contained “plenty of food.” When the inspector visited last week, she said, residents were sitting down to a breakfast of bacon and eggs and juice.

Authorities also charged that Newhouse failed to tell them she had evicted two residents in February or that a fight broke out among three residents in March--both violations of state regulations, said Shirley Chase, a spokeswoman for the Social Services Department.

“The state needs to know it has a safe environment for its clients,” Chase said, adding that Newhouse had been on probation for past problems.

Officials said that during a March inspection of the Newhouse Group Home, 12658 Terra Bella St., they found soiled mattresses, several broken dining-room chairs and soiled carpeting throughout the building.

In addition, the toilet seat was broken, a pile of garbage was in the back yard, rooms were poorly lighted, there was no toilet paper or soap, and the smoke detector, fire extinguishers, television and microwave oven did not work.

At the Newhouse Board and Care on nearby Gain Street, there were no reading materials, sports equipment, television or patio furniture and the home had no activity program as required by state law, officials said.

Newhouse said the homes were clean and the residents well-treated.

“They get good care, but the licensing don’t see that,” she said, referring to the Social Service Department’s community care licensing division.

“The licensing, they got someone who comes in here after seven months on the job and they put down everything” that appears to be a violation, she said.

Newhouse said the residents of the homes included mentally retarded men and others who were recovering alcoholics and drug abusers. She said operators of many other care homes will not accept such clients.

She allowed a reporter and photographer to walk freely through the Terra Bella facility, which appeared generally neat and orderly, although walls and doors were smudged and the furniture was battered-looking.

Newhouse’s husband, Maxie Newhouse, said the furnishings were the same as when the home was inspected last week. However, two worn-looking sofas and two frayed mattresses were piled on the sidewalk in front.

Chase said the state typically transfers residents of closed facilities to other homes, but she did not know where the Newhouse residents were sent. Newhouse said they were transferred to other facilities in North Hollywood, Van Nuys, Altadena and Pasadena.

Chase said the closure order will remain in effect until a hearing is held before an administrative judge. Newhouse could be put on probation or lose her license. No date for the hearing has been set.