Pasadena : Motel Owner on Probation

A municipal judge this week sentenced the owner of a Pasadena motel to 36 months’ summary probation. Fire officials had closed the motel in December because of dangerous conditions and multiple code violations.

Judge Elvira Mitchell on Wednesday ordered Ching Tsai, the owner of the Capri Motel, at Lincoln Avenue and Howard Street, to pay $8,000 in fines and penalties and $4,108 for the city’s inspection costs.

Fire officials reported dozens of violations in the 35-room motel, including frayed electrical wires, hazardous plumbing, broken smoke detectors and a lack of sprinklers or extinguishers. On Dec. 28, the city evacuated 49 tenants, including 20 children under 18.

Since then, Tsai has brought the Capri up to code, said Prentice Deadrick, director of the city’s northeast programs.

Tsai said he is considering various commercial options for his property.

Civic leaders do not want the property to be used again as a motel. The motel, aside from being a dilapidated structure, was also a focus of drug dealing and petty crime, city officials said.