EARTHQUAKE: THE LONG ROAD BACK : Trespasser at Condemned Building Jailed
A man who lived near the devastated Northridge Meadows Apartments pleaded guilty Wednesday to illegally entering the condemned building where 16 people died during the Northridge earthquake.
Timothy Loughton, 24, pleaded guilty to one misdemeanor count of trespassing and was immediately sentenced to 90 days in County Jail by Van Nuys Municipal Judge Gerald Richardson.
“Hopefully, a 90-day jail term will get the message out to people who would trespass during this time of crisis,” Deputy City Atty. David Knokey said.
Richardson also placed Loughton on probation for two years.
Loughton was arrested Friday morning by Los Angeles police after he was seen by workers who were demolishing the apartment complex. Loughton was on the second floor when he was taken into custody.
Northridge Meadows had been red-tagged by building inspectors, making it illegal to enter the premises.
Mark Walters, a 22-year-old Van Nuys man, was also arrested at Northridge Meadows Friday morning, but he has not been charged.
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