Convicted Landlord Still Ailing, Court Told

Landlord Sam Menlo won’t be returning to his run-down Anaheim apartment complex any time soon--at least not until a judge reviews more medical records to determine whether Menlo is healthy enough to serve the rest of his house-arrest sentence.

Menlo served less than half of his 60-day sentence at the Ridgewood Garden apartments before he apparently suffered a stroke on Nov. 25. He was admitted to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles but has been released.

He has not returned to live in one of the apartment units, nor is he wearing the electronic monitoring device which ensured that he would stay on the premises. He was allowed to return to his 8,500-square-foot home near the Wilshire Country Club in Los Angeles.

“My interest is that he serve the balance of his sentence,” Orange County Superior Court Judge Michael Hayes said at a hearing Wednesday. However, he added, “I’m not going to kill the man in the process.”

Menlo did not appear in court but was represented by two attorneys, who told Hayes that Menlo suffered at least two strokes which impaired his cognitive and motor abilities. They said Menlo was available to speak with the judge or with an independent doctor selected by prosecutors, but the judge said it is too early for such a step.

Hayes sealed the medical records and prohibited attorneys from discussing any specifics of Menlo’s condition. A more detailed medical report will be reviewed in February.

In 1997 after years of allegedly neglecting the 368-unit apartment complex and making shoddy repairs, Menlo was cited by the city of Anaheim for 34 criminal violations of building codes. He pleaded no contest to three counts, paid a fine and was placed on probation.

When Menlo failed to make necessary repairs, the city filed a petition May 1 asking Hayes to find him in violation of his probation.

Hayes visited the complex this fall and found numerous substandard conditions, including unsecured units littered with human defecation and drug paraphernalia as well as broken windows, graffiti, mold and mildew.

The judge determined that Menlo had violated probation and sentenced him in October to spend 60 days at the apartment complex.

He also placed other restrictions on Menlo, ordering him to rehabilitate one building per month. Repairs have been completed to one building, but Menlo missed a deadline for completing repairs to the second. If Menlo violates probation again, he could serve up to 18 months in jail.

Hayes said he knew there would be hitches in getting the apartments fixed up, but warned: “Both sides have given me the right . . . to go down over there, walk around and see what I see. I reserve then the right to do that. I’m interested.”

After the hearing, Paul Meyer, one of the attorneys representing Menlo, said Menlo’s company, Century Quality Management, is working closely with the city throughout the renovation process.

“Right now, we have a very cooperative working relationship,” Meyer said. “We’re working on schedule, and it’s progressing. This whole process is going on in a really orderly fashion.”

Despite their assurances, Deputy City Atty. Mike Burke said he fears the renovations may slow without Menlo living on the premises. And he has previously complained that repairs were barely meeting the minimum standard.

“So far, their repair schedule is deemed adequate by the court, but I feel that they could be more aggressive,” Burke said.

Burke also said he strongly believes Menlo should serve the remainder of his 60-day sentence and that it would take strong medical evidence to persuade Burke otherwise.