MOORPARK : Renovated Homes Cited for Violations
Just as repairs are completed on a group of rundown homes across from Moorpark City Hall, the former owners have been fined $5,000 for more than 200 building code violations.
Lynnette and James Scaroni of Somis drew the fine from a Ventura County Municipal Court judge on Monday after pleading no contest to the misdemeanor charges of violating city building codes, said their attorney, Mitch Kahn.
The couple, who bought the property in 1989 as an investment, recently defaulted on the mortgage. Ownership of the land and homes reverted to the original owner, Charles Cho.
Cho began repairs of the homes about two weeks ago, tearing down one of the 14 shanties on Friday. Three other homes have been condemned, and Cho has not decided whether he will repair them or have them torn down.
Last weekend he completed repairs on the roofs of 10 homes, said Richard Hare, Moorpark assistant city manager. Hare said work that needs to be done includes fixing broken heaters and installing windows that come up to code.
Because the violations were so numerous and the city had to spend so much money on the case, officials had hoped the judge would fine the Scaronis about $20,000, Hare said.
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