More Jail Time Possible in Razing of Oaks

An Ojai Valley property owner found guilty of illegally plowing over 300 oak trees on his land has violated the terms of his probation and may serve additional jail time, officials said Thursday.

William Kaddis, 58, was sentenced in July to 210 days in jail and ordered to pay a $500,000 fine for destroying the trees. Superior Court Judge Kevin J. McGee had allowed Kaddis to stay out of jail until his appeal was heard but ordered the real estate broker to begin making payments on his fine immediately.

Kaddis has failed to comply with the order, however.

He was supposed to make an initial payment of $3,000 to the Ventura County Public Works Department, followed by monthly payments of $9,500 to the court. If he lost his appeal, the money would then go to the Ojai Valley Land Conservancy.

“He hasn’t complied with the terms of his probation,” said Deputy Dist. Atty. Karen Wold. “He thinks that he should be able to wait until he finishes with his appeal until he can start paying.”

If Kaddis loses his appeal, he would have to serve his 210-day sentence and possibly an additional 30 days, as recommended by the county Probation Department, Wold said.

Kaddis could not be reached for comment. His attorney, Neil Evans, said there were a number of legal reasons why his client shouldn’t have to follow the judge’s order but also a practical one:

“He doesn’t have the financial ability to comply,” Evans said.

In May, Kaddis was found guilty of using bulldozers to illegally knock down the trees on his 43-acre hillside ranch in 2001. During his sentencing last summer, Kaddis, an Egyptian American, denied uprooting the trees and claimed to be the victim of a hate crime.

A hearing on Kaddis’ probation is scheduled Dec. 12. The proceeding may be continued if the appellate court has not made a ruling by then, attorneys in the case said.