Landlord Fined for Code Violations
A Camarillo man has been ordered to pay $9,371 in fines and other costs after pleading no contest to charges that a Hollywood apartment building he owns violated health and safety codes.
Barry David Wallman, 44, entered his plea Friday. Los Angeles Municipal Court Commissioner Kristi Lousteau also ordered Wallman to repair the two-story, 24-apartment building at 1830 N. Cahuenga Blvd. by July 15 or face more fines and possible jail time.
Prosecutors filed the charges against Wallman after an investigation by the Los Angeles Slum Housing Task Force, a group that coordinates city efforts to identify and clean up buildings in disrepair.
A routine health inspection of the building last year led to a series of task force inspections, between July 14 and Feb. 18. Investigators found an open sewer, an uncapped natural gas line, missing heaters, broken windows, rodents and cockroaches, leaking pipes, sagging floors and buckled walls, according to Los Angeles City Atty. Jim Hahn.
In a press release, Hahn said Wallman ignored several orders to repair the building’s code violations. The $9,371 Wallman must pay includes $4,320 in fines and penalties, $1,951 in investigation costs, a $100 donation to the State Restitution Fund and a $3,000 donation to one of three nonprofit charitable organizations.
Should he fail to make the required repairs, Wallman could face a maximum additional penalty of $8,000 and four years in jail, Deputy City Atty. Michael R. Wilkinson said.
Wallman could not be reached for comment Tuesday.
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