Further Penalty Sought in Oaks’ Razing

Ojai Valley property owner William Kaddis is proving tougher to bend than the oak trees uprooted on his land two years ago.

Kaddis, who was found guilty last year of razing about 300 protected oaks, has failed to make payments on a $500,000 court-ordered fine and has yet to file an erosion plan that public works officials say is required by the terms of probation to secure the hillside ranch from potential mudslides this winter.

A sentencing judge also ordered Kaddis to serve 210 days in jail, but allowed the property owner to delay serving time pending an appeal.

Kaddis, 58, recently asked the appellate division of the Ventura County Superior Court to delay compliance with the terms of his probation as well, but a three-judge panel rejected the request.

Now, Ventura County probation officers are recommending that Kaddis, a Los Angeles real estate broker, serve a month in jail for violating the terms of probation. A hearing is set for today.

“If he is not going to agree to accept the terms of probation, then he needs to spend whatever custody time the court feels is appropriate,” said Deputy Dist. Atty. Karen Wold, who prosecuted the case.

But attorney Neil Evans, who represents Kaddis, said the terms were unusually strict for a misdemeanor case and represented a financial burden for his client. Evans intends to again ask the court to stay the probation terms pending the outcome of the appeal.

“He has an appeal pending and, if his appeal is successful, he should not have to comply with these conditions,” Evans said. “What they are attempting to ask Mr. Kaddis to do for a misdemeanor is quite extreme.”

Evans does not dispute that Kaddis has failed to make the $9,500 monthly payments. Nor does he dispute that the property owner has failed to file the erosion plan.

But he said Kaddis has attempted to work with county officials to resolve disputes concerning the property, and has taken independent steps, including hiring experts, to ensure that there is no risk of mudslides.

“There is no erosion and the county unreasonably is contending that there is,” Evans said.

Kaddis’ failure to comply with the terms of probation is the latest development in the unusual criminal case, described as the largest unauthorized tree removal in Ventura County history.

In May, Kaddis was found guilty of illegally destroying trees on his 44-acre ranch in October 2001. According to county officials and court testimony, Kaddis rented a bulldozer and hired a worker to clear the land.

Kaddis, an Egyptian American, claims to be the victim of a hate crime and has stood firm in his contention that he played no role in uprooting the oaks.