Deal Near to Free Longtime City Critic

A 65-year-old Moorpark man held in Ventura County Jail since September for allegedly trying to run down a city code enforcement officer may be a week away from freedom, a Superior Court Judge said at his hearing Monday.

Judge Steven Z. Perren told Gerald Goldstein that if by Friday he could agree to certain terms, not disclosed in court, that he might be released from custody.

“We’re very close to solving this thing,” Perren said.

He left it up to Goldstein to work out the details with his attorney, Louis Samonsky.

“You’ll have to stop being a pain in the side of the community,” Perren told Goldstein.

Goldstein, who is known for humorous and sometimes cutting criticism of officials at Moorpark City Council meetings, has had a long history of run-ins with city code enforcement officers.

In 1992, his home--stuffed up to the tops of doorways with old newspapers, magazines and other objects--had to be torn down. The mobile home that took its place was also soon cluttered with trash and had to be cleaned up for health reasons, Moorpark officials said.

In September, Mario Riley, a code enforcement officer for the city, two Ventura County sheriff’s deputies, a cleanup crew and a psychologist in charge of a trust fund set up for Goldstein’s care arrived at Goldstein’s Beltramo Ranch Road property to clean out the trash. Goldstein allegedly became incensed, and tried to run over Riley with his truck.

Goldstein’s attorney said his client would consider the terms of the agreement and talk to the judge on Friday.

“The ball is really in Mr. Goldstein’s court,” Samonsky said.