Alarm Firm Operator Pleads No Contest

The owner of a Sherman Oaks company who allegedly cheated senior citizens by selling them overpriced or unnecessary home-alarm systems pleaded no contest to six misdemeanor criminal counts Wednesday, according to the Los Angeles city attorney’s office.

Jeffrey Roy Bagg, 44, of Rancho Park was charged with operating an unlicensed alarm company and conducting an alarm-company business from a location other than the one for which a license was issued, Deputy City Atty. P. Greg Parham said.

Bagg, who ran his business under the names ITT Security Inc. and ITT Security Systems Inc., faces a maximum penalty of six years in County Jail and $6,000 in fines, Parham said. Bagg could not be reached for comment.

Co-defendant Katrina Carmel Jackman, 37, of Glendale, pleaded no contest Feb. 8 to two counts of illegally displaying an alarm-company license, Parham said.

Jackson, who was a saleswoman, is scheduled to be sentenced March 14 and faces a maximum 1 year in County Jail and $2,000 in fines.

A restitution hearing for Bagg and Jackman will be held in Division 54 on April 18, when Bagg will also be sentenced. Restitution to victims, among them residents of Canoga Park, Chatsworth, Palm Springs, Palm Desert and Orange, could exceed $40,000, Parham said.

Bagg and Jackson, along with a third co-defendant, Melvin Taylor Hamp, 69, of St. Helena, Calif., victimized at least 26 people using false and misleading sales tactics, Parham said.

Hamp was sentenced Oct. 25 to 60 days in jail or 250 hours community service and was ordered to pay $10,696 in fines.

Victims told investigators that they were approached at their homes by salespeople who remained as long as six or seven hours to force a sale. When people tried to return the unwanted security systems for refunds, the systems would be removed from their homes but they would not get their money back.