Charges Filed in Slumlord Case

Criminal charges were filed against two couples Wednesday who authorities claim have kept their four apartment buildings on Blythe Street in Panorama City in slum conditions for the past four years.

Paul Calvo, 41, and his wife, Peggy Calvo, 41, of Pasadena, and Howard Yonet, 61, and his wife, Danielle Yonet, of Pacific Palisades, were each charged with 20 building code violations at the four buildings, each containing 14 units, in the 14600 block of Blythe Street, said Los Angeles Deputy City Atty. Don Cocek.

The charges stem from 1991, when building inspectors issued orders to repair the violations after inspecting the buildings. But the code violations still existed at the buildings in subsequent inspections in 1994, Cocek said.

“We just wanted to let the people know that we are serious about cleaning up the neighborhood,” said Cocek. “Nobody should have to live in those kind of conditions.”

Cocek said inspectors found defective smoke detectors, broken windows, inoperable heaters, exposed wiring, open waste lines, peeling paint, broken doors, leaking roofs and water-damaged ceilings, walls and floors, among other things.

In 1988, the buildings were known magnets for drug sales by Blythe Street gang members, authorities said, until the Calvos were put under an injunction obtained under the narcotics abatement action by City Atty. James K. Hahn.

The couples are scheduled to be arraigned April 19.